Buzz
Since its launch in 1983, My Little Pony has become one of Hasbro’s most iconic and adored toy franchises, captivating generations. Discover some fascinating details about the toys, their television adaptations, the passionate Brony community, and other intriguing aspects.
1. Bonnie Zacherle, the creator, drew inspiration from a real-life pony.
During her childhood in Japan, Bonnie Zacherle’s father, an Army Colonel and veterinarian, tended to animals in quarantine. Zacherle grew fond of a small, plump Korean pack pony named Knicker. Unfortunately, Knicker couldn’t accompany them when they left Japan. At My Little Pony Fair 2008, Zacherle shared her story: “Bonnie’s father assured her she would one day have her own horse or pony. However, by the time he retired, Bonnie was in high school. He told her, ‘You can have a horse, but you’ll need to wake up early every morning, care for it after school, and sacrifice vacations, college, and social life.’”
Although Zacherle never got her horse, Knicker left a lasting impression. “I think the ponies’ chubby design was influenced by my own pony’s appearance,” she explained. “Ponies are naturally shorter and stouter, unlike long-legged thoroughbreds.”
2. For years, Zacherle unsuccessfully proposed a horse toy concept to Hasbro...
After graduating with an illustration degree from Syracuse University, Zacherle worked at a greeting card company and took on freelance design projects for Hasbro in her spare time. When the card company was sold in the late 1970s, she transitioned to a full-time role at Hasbro. For three years, she pitched a cuddly horse toy with a combable mane and tail, but her idea was repeatedly rejected. “My boss and others dismissed it, saying, ‘Bonnie, little girls aren’t like you. They prefer cooking, cleaning, and ironing,’” Zacherle recalled, adding, “I thought they must be joking.”
3. … Until a senior executive finally requested a pony toy.
In 2014, Zacherle shared that a year after abandoning her horse toy idea, a colleague at Hasbro informed her, “Bonnie, our boss has a concept similar to yours, but instead of a horse, it’s a pony. He wants to make it larger and include mechanical features.” Zacherle was then asked to create a design sketch for the pony.
4. My Pretty Pony was first introduced in 1981.
Standing over 10 inches tall, the toy was crafted from hard plastic and featured a lever beneath its chin that triggered wiggling ears, a winking eye, and a swishing tail. My Pretty Pony achieved moderate success, selling millions of units.
5. The transformation to My Little Pony was inspired by a marketing executive’s wife.
Following the modest success of My Pretty Pony, Hasbro’s vice president of marketing took the toy home for his wife’s opinion. She suggested improvements: “It’s decent, but it should be smaller, softer, have combable hair, and be played with like a doll,” Zacherle remembered. Acting on her advice, the executive instructed Zacherle to redesign the toy, making it smaller, softer, and adding combable hair without altering its essence. The result was a 5 to 6-inch vinyl pony, far more cuddly than its predecessor.
Hasbro submitted a patent for My Little Pony in August 1981, which was approved two years later. The patent credits three inventors: Zacherle, Charles Muenchinger, and Steven D. D’Aguanno. Muenchinger, a Hasbro sculptor, brought Zacherle’s designs to life, while D’Aguanno served as Hasbro’s General Manager of Research and Development.
6. Originally, My Little Pony was designed as a gender-neutral toy for preschoolers.
The vibrant ponies we adore today were far from Zacherle’s original vision. She imagined toys resembling real horses—appaloosa, dappled grey, palomino, and pintos—designed for both preschool girls and boys. She initially created scaled-down versions of the original My Pretty Pony, all in palomino. In 2015, she shared, “The colors came about when my friend, the marketing director, suggested pink and purple. I resisted, saying, ‘Get out of my office!’ She argued that little girls loved those colors, but I insisted preschool toys should be gender-neutral. Eventually, I agreed to test it, and the bright colors won.”
7. The first generation included six ponies.
In 1982, Snuzzle, Butterscotch, Blue Belle, Minty, Blossom, and Cotton Candy were introduced. These ponies were crafted in the “Flatfoot Pose,” characterized by flat feet instead of concave ones, with their heads facing forward and downward. This pose was unique to the first year and never reused.
8. The toy’s release was nearly canceled.
During its Toy Fair debut, My Little Pony failed to impress. Zacherle recalled in 2008, “The sales team claimed the pony didn’t stand out, and they couldn’t sell it. However, the marketing director, influenced by his wife’s earlier suggestion, refused to drop the product. It was a close call.” When finally released, My Little Pony became an instant hit, captivating girls across the U.S. and internationally, flying off shelves.
9. The My Little Pony franchise features multiple lines, referred to as “generations” by collectors.
Generation 1, spanning 1983 to 1992, introduced various poses and expanded from six original characters to include unicorns, sea ponies, pegasus ponies, flutter ponies, sparkle ponies, glow ‘n show ponies (which glowed in the dark), so soft ponies (with fuzzy textures), scented ponies, secret surprise ponies (with hidden compartments), and Drink ‘n Wet baby ponies (with diapers that revealed patterns when wet).
Kenner, a Hasbro subsidiary acquired in 1991, produced the G2 ponies from 1997 to 2003. These slimmer ponies are less favored by collectors. The G3 line (2003-2009) returned to a design closer to G1. In 2009, the G ponies debuted with a dramatic redesign, lasting until 2010. The G4 generation, launched in 2010, featured characters from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, followed by G4.5 (2020-2021) and the current G5. Retro versions of G1 and G3 ponies have been available since 2007.
10. Rare My Little Pony figures can fetch high prices.
Collectors Weekly notes that Hasbro not only sold My Little Ponies in stores but also offered mail-order exclusives. For example, a Rapunzel Pony sold for $800 in 2012. Hasbro also licensed its molds globally. Summer Hayes, a collector guide author, told Collectors Weekly in 2012 that collectors uncovered a previously unknown line of Venezuelan Ponies, mint-in-box, which quickly sold on eBay. She added, “We’re still discovering new variations and countries of origin.” In 2016, a rare Greek G1 pony in a unique pose was listed on eBay for $750.
11. The inaugural My Little Pony TV special premiered in 1984, co-produced by Marvel.
Griffin Bacal, an ad agency established in 1978 with Hasbro as its primary client, went beyond commercials by founding Sunbow Productions. This animation studio collaborated with Marvel’s animation division to create TV specials, movies, and series based on Hasbro’s toy lines, including My Little Pony. The first special, initially titled My Little Pony and released in April 1984, was later renamed Rescue at Midnight Castle. A second special, Escape from Catrina, followed in March 1985. Their success paved the way for the first My Little Pony movie.
12. My Little Pony: The Movie marked Marvel’s first domestic theatrical release.
Released in June 1986, My Little Pony: The Movie featured voice performances by Cloris Leachman, Rhea Perlman, Danny DeVito, Tony Randall, and Madeline Kahn. It premiered over a month before Howard the Duck, making it Marvel Studios’ first domestic theatrical film.
However, the film’s reception was far from stellar. Critics harshly criticized it, with the Los Angeles Times describing the experience as “being submerged in cotton candy for 90 minutes: the overwhelming sweetness leaves adults checking for cavities. … The true anthem of My Little Pony is the sound of cash registers, as Hasbro aims to convert young viewers into consumers. Beneath the sugary charm lies a corporate agenda as sharp as a razor blade.” The movie earned only $5,958,456 domestically.
13. The first TV series based on the toy line, My Little Pony 'n Friends, premiered in 1986.
Launched in September 1986, the show ran for two seasons. Each episode included a Pony tale segment and a “Friends” segment featuring other Hasbro toys. The Glo Friends showcased Glo Worms; MoonDreamers highlighted dolls from the same-named line; and Potato Head Kids revolved around Mr. Potato Head’s family. Breckin Meyer provided the voice for one of the characters.
This wasn’t the only My Little Pony show—My Little Pony Tales, which debuted in 1992, focused on the teenage-like adventures of ponies Starlight, Sweetheart, Melody, Bright Eyes, Patch, Clover, and Bon Bon. It aired for one season and later in syndication. Additionally, several direct-to-DVD My Little Pony specials were released between 2003 and 2009.
14. Michael Bay’s Transformers films played a direct role in the creation of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
The 2007 live-action Transformers movie was a massive financial success for Hasbro. Later that year, the Los Angeles Times reported that the company aimed to adapt more of its toy lines into movies, inspired by Transformers’ $702 million global box office earnings. Hasbro hired Lisa Licht, a former 20th Century Fox executive, to lead its entertainment and licensing division. In May 2008, the company regained rights to its Sunbow-produced shows from TV-Loonland. By June 2008, Global License noted Hasbro was developing a new entertainment project for My Little Pony, likely Friendship is Magic.
15. Lauren Faust, the creator of Friendship Is Magic, initially approached Hasbro with a doll line concept.
In 2008, Lauren Faust, known for her work on The Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, pitched an idea for a doll series called Galaxy Girls to Hasbro. “I presented my original concept to Hasbro Studios’ Lisa Licht as a potential animated series,” Faust explained to Animation World Network in 2011. (“I never intended it to be a show,” Faust later admitted, “but toy manufacturers often require shows before investing.”) After discussing her background and sharing her artwork, Licht surprised Faust by pulling out a My Little Pony: The Princess Promenade DVD. “[She] asked if I liked My Little Pony, which was my favorite childhood toy,” Faust recalled. “It seemed spontaneous—she thought my Galaxy Girls material might align with My Little Pony. She asked me to brainstorm ideas for a new version of the franchise.”
As a child, Faust adored the toys but not the TV shows. She agreed to conceptualize a My Little Pony series despite her reservations. “Shows based on girls’ toys always felt off to me, even as a kid,” she wrote for Ms. in 2010. “They didn’t match how I played. I gave my ponies and Strawberry Shortcake dolls unique personalities and sent them on grand adventures. On TV, the characters were indistinguishable, spending endless time at tea parties, giggling, or defeating villains by sharing or crying—which somehow made the villains nice. Even at seven, I found these shows nonsensical and boring.”
Faust aimed to create ponies with depth, engaging in more action and adventure than typical girls’ shows.
16. Faust developed a “Pitch Bible” to demonstrate her vision.
To bring her vision to life, Faust developed a detailed 40-page pitch bible. She enlisted artists to craft backgrounds and refine character designs while handling all the writing herself. After presenting the pitch bible—complete with character designs, descriptions, and world-building details—Hasbro partnered with Studio B, appointing Jayson Thiessen as supervising director. A 2-minute short was produced, leading to the greenlighting of Friendship Is Magic.
Following this, Faust shared with Equestria Daily, “I selected my writing team (with Hasbro and Hub’s approval), many of whom I’d collaborated with on Powerpuff or Foster’s. Studio B and Jayson Thiessen assembled the rest of the creative team. Voice actors and composers were auditioned, and while Jayson and I recommended our choices, Hasbro and the Hub made the final decisions. We had a few disagreements, but everything turned out perfectly.”
17. Faust’s ponies drew inspiration from Generation 1 toys and her childhood creations.
Faust looked to her beloved G1 ponies for inspiration. Rainbow Dash was modeled after Firefly; Rarity was influenced by Glory and Sparkler; Fluttershy by Posey; Pinkie Pie by a Pegasus pony; Apple Bloom by Ember; Celestia by Majesty; and Twilight Sparkle by the original Twilight.
Faust infused her ponies with the personalities she had imagined as a child. “I referenced the stories and characterizations I created while playing with the toys,” she told Equestria Daily. “The characters in the show were based on the personalities I assigned to my toys. My inner 8-year-old was my focus group.” Each of the Mane 6 ponies embodies a unique trait: According to The Cut, “Applejack symbolizes honesty; Rarity, generosity; Fluttershy, kindness; Rainbow Dash, loyalty; and Pinkie Pie, laughter. Twilight embodies the magic that unites them. In Equestria, their friendship is a superpower, protecting the world—a superpower wielded entirely by females.”
18. Hasbro played a significant role in shaping elements of the show that could be adapted into toys.
While Faust enjoyed considerable creative freedom, the Friendship Is Magic team collaborated closely with Hasbro on elements with toy potential. “Hasbro’s input mainly focused on locations that could become playsets,” Faust told Equestria Daily. “Rarity’s Carousel Boutique underwent several revisions. They also introduced ideas like the hot air balloon, which they wanted featured in the show. Sometimes, they’d request locations like a schoolhouse in advance so we could design them first. They allowed us to integrate these elements naturally into the story, avoiding abrupt inclusions.”
“Balancing my creative vision with Hasbro’s need for toy sales and ratings has been challenging,” Faust wrote on Ms. “I strive to incorporate their requirements thoughtfully. When asked to feature a toy or playset, my team ensures it fits seamlessly into the narrative. Fashion play is another requirement, but we focus on Rarity as a designer rather than a trend follower, portraying her as an artist running her own boutique, not a shopaholic.”
Faust served as executive producer for the first season but transitioned to consulting producer by the second season and left before the third. While neither Faust nor Hasbro commented on her departure, Longreads suggested it might have been linked to the spin-off Equestria Girls, which transformed the ponies into high-school girls focused on fashion and social status. In 2014, Faust told The Cut, “It’s painful for me. I poured my heart into My Little Pony. I left the show, but it feels like it was taken from me.” After Faust stepped back, Jayson Thiessen took over as showrunner.
19. The rise of the Bronies was entirely unexpected.
Friendship Is Magic was an instant hit, averaging 325,000 viewers at its debut, as reported by Variety. While aimed at 6- to 11-year-old girls, it unexpectedly garnered a devoted following among adult men, known as “Bronies,” who passionately adored the show and its characters. (The term brony is widely believed to be a blend of “bro” and “pony,” though some contest this; adult female fans often refer to themselves as “Pegasisters.”) This phenomenon surprised everyone. “It was unexpected,” Ashleigh Ball, the voice of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, told The Daily Beast. “The show wasn’t made for adult men—it was for little girls. But everyone involved, from Hasbro to the studio, has embraced it.”
“I may have underestimated this, but I assumed adult men without daughters wouldn’t even give the show a chance,” Faust told WIRED. “The fact that they did, and were open-minded, confident, and secure enough to embrace it, love it, and discuss it online—I’m proud of that.”
Even celebrities are fans: "Weird Al" Yankovic appeared as a pony named Cheese Sandwich in a 2014 episode, and Andrew W.K. has openly identified as a Brony (relating to Pinkie Pie).
20. Today, My Little Pony is available on Netflix and YouTube.
In 2021, Netflix and Hasbro announced a new My Little Pony film featuring “theatrical-quality CG animation,” as described in a press release. My Little Pony: A New Generation depicts a magic-deprived Equestria divided by fear and mistrust, with voice talents including Vanessa Hudgens and James Marsden. In 2022, Hasbro revealed a weekly YouTube series, alongside a Netflix series and two specials set to release throughout the year.
