Sorbet Surprise (AKA Sherbet in North America)

Sorbet Surprise was one of four earth ponies from the Sundae Best Pony set. She was sold in 1988 in North America and in late 1988 into 1989 in the UK. Her name was different in the UK from the US, where she was called "Sherbet". This name change probably happened because in the UK, "Sherbet" is a type of powdered candy, whereas "sorbet" is an iced dish closer to ice cream.

Cherry Berry Mint on UK Card
Image from Lady Guinevere

Although she was ultimately called Sherbet in the North American release, projected mint in card images in Hasbro's catalogue suggested she would originally be called Cherry Berry. This name was later scrapped in the US line and used in the UK for a different pony altogether.

Despite much name confusion for this set, Sorbet Surprise is correctly named on the UK backcard.

Sorbet Surprise's Name
Sundae Best Backcard, UK, 1988-9

Sorbet Surprise was also sold in European countries around the same time as she was available in the UK. Some European countries had her on American-style cards, such as the Benelux countries, whilst others had her on European/UK style cards, translated. The main difference (aside minor card design) was that those sold in North America/Benelux had a hair clip, whilst those sold in the UK and other parts of Europe did not.

Sorbet Surprise could be made in China or in Hong Kong. The pony pictured at the top of the page is made in China and was found at a UK carboot sale in the late 1990s.

The Hong Kong versions are more often sold in the North American/with-a-clip release, whilst Chinese ones are easier to find in the UK and I imagine on the continent.

Sorbet Surprise's Character

Although she was first introduced with a graphic of the wrong pony (Chocolate Chip), Sorbet Surprise went on to have one of the more established characters in the pony comic. This was in large part because of her association with the grape vine, from which she obtained not only grapes, but gossip!

Sorbet Surprise (drawn correctly)
My Little Pony and Friends Comic

 Her backcard story also mentions her connection to grapes, and the fact that she does not have a sweet tooth. We can only hope that the ice crystals she was mixing into her concoctions weren't from Misty Mountain.

Sorbet Surprise's Backcard Story
UK, 1988-9

Ironically, although she has "Surprise" in her name, her story doesn't mention her calling her special dish a "Sorbet Surprise." This is despite the fact her American story features her friends terming her latest concoction a "Sherbet Surprise". Somehow I feel like an opportunity was missed here! Her American story has no association with grapes, and rather talks about her fetching tropical fruit. Her scent is a bit coconut-like, so perhaps this is the reason why.