The My Little Pony Scrapbook: Summer Wing Ponies

Summer Wing Ponies

After two years of Flutter Ponies, Hasbro's design team had clearly decided that as pretty as the dragonfly wings were, their delicacy demanded a reconsideration. The solution was a set of six new ponies, this time with more of a butterfly theme. The moulds used were all tiny - almost baby pony in proportion - although they were cast as adults in the comics. They all had distinctively patterned wings, which did not flap like the Flutter Wings, but instead were held down by a square of plastic in the middle of the pony's back.

These wings can - and do - break, but bending, warping and ponies looking like they are doing odd forms of semaphore are more common.

Each Summer Wing pony had a symbol that related to birds or insects, came in a box, and was sold with a comb and a metallic ribbon (like those originally sold with the Flutter Ponies, but in new colours). The boxes were the same design/artwork as those sold in North America, although the UK cards would usually be punched through at the top, while those sold in North America had hooks.

Mint in Box Buzzer
(UK, 1988)

Glow, Mint in Box
(USA, 1988)

Italian boxes were a little different, as was usual in the 1980s - here they were marketed under the adorable name, "Baby-Pony-Flap-Flap". "Pony Flap Flap" was the Italian release name for the Flutter Ponies, so in Italy, the Summer Wings were marketed as 'baby flutters', even though they did not 'flap-flap' ;).

Buzzer, Mint in Box
Italy, 1988-9
Image from Shivhae

There were three new poses included in the set, and they would be reprised the next year with the Windy Wing Ponies (these are distinguishable from the Summer Wing set by their symbols, which are usually space/weather orientated).

The Summer Wing Ponies can be made in China or in Hong Kong. I have found Hong Kong versions more common in the UK.

The Summer Wing Ponies made their comic debut in My Little Pony & Friends comic #9, where Summer Wing Valley was discovered by some roaming First Tooth Baby Ponies. They continued to be featured in the comics for the rest of 1988 - particularly Buzzer and Glow.

Introducing the Summer Wing Ponies
My Little Pony & Friends, 1988

1988

Summer Wing Ponies

(Butterflies incoming)

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Summer Wing Ponies

Ponies in this Set: North America and UK, 1988.