'Fakie' or 'Phony' is a term coined by My Little Pony collectors for off-brand toys trying to get in on the popularity of My Little Ponies. The toys vary from exact casts of genuine ponies to toys that are barely recognizable as equine. Some collectors have even taken to collecting fakies.

Most fakies date to Generation 1, although several have appeared during Generation 3. With Generation 4 came more copies as well.

Authenticity

While most fakies at first sight may look like an exact replica, there are key features that will give away whether or not the pony is a genuine pony.

Stamps and Markings

Fakies generally do not have any markings, some may state their country of origin and some might state the production company. Generally genuine ponies will say Hasbro, country of origin and sometimes Pat. Pend., either on the bottom of their feet, inside the leg or on their bellies/rump. The exception to this rule are Nirvanas, they may for production reasons have had either or all of the above removed from their production mold where they were made.

Example
G1 bodies usually have stamps that state year, Hasbro (sometimes Hasbro-Bradley, Estrela or Playskool - if they are nirvana), 'Pat. Pend.' (Patent Pending, for earlier releases of ponies) and country of origin. Some ponies do not disclose origin, year or production company. These ponies are usually Nirvana.
G3 bodies will usually have the logo, year and Hasbro stamped on their feet. Early versions of G3 had magnets in their feet that would allow them to interact with play-sets. Due to small parts Hasbro discontinued this style and later G3s instead had a relief of the logo in their body mold.
Later release of G3 stamps and markings, now the magnet piece is no longer included.
G4 ponies usually have a stamp probably for mold number, production number (?), logo, year and Hasbro, sometimes also '# Hasbro SA'.

Size and Shape

Sometimes the pony may look spot on, but upon closer inspection something looks off. Perhaps the face looks odd in shape, this may be a key that the pony is not genuine. There are a few exceptions to this rule however. South African ponies tend to have poses that are usually a blend of two ponies, which gives them a strange appearance.

Colors

Many cheap fakies usually have vibrant colors, the exception to this rule are Nirvana ponies - they may have ordinary poses and still have oddly vibrant colors.

Rooted Tails

Genuine ponies generally do not have rooted tails, they have their tails held by a washer - a metal piece securing it from the inside. However there are exceptions to this rule, South African ponies are known to have rooted tails instead of tails secured by washers.

Example
Example of a fakie tail. The hair is usually rooted into a circle shape to hide the fact that the tail isn't a full tail.
Tail of Sundance, note how the tail is a single hank going through a hole in the body - secured by a washer on the other side.

Paint

Generally, genuine ponies have a nice even paint and symbols are vibrant and follow a uniform style and palette. Fakies on the other hand may have paint that is unstable and may bleed or not remain stable as a solid, they usually tend to have a single color as their symbol as well. There are however a few Nirvana ponies that are prone to doing this as well, especially Greeks.

Example
General style of G1 My Little Ponies, note the outline of the eye and shape of the iris/pupil and placement of the white speck, it will usually be mirrored on the other side. Ponies can be stamped, painted or airbrushed.
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G2 eyes had gemstones in them instead of white specks.
General style of G3, note the similarities in how it follows a similar execution to G1. With an extra upper eyelash and a single stroke of paint and an additional symbol in the eye, it is almost like the original style.
General style of G4, the eyes have gone from being painted to a stamped on look. The distinct gradient in the iris and two tone highlights is a recurring style as eyes vary - but budget versions usually just have a single solid color and one white speck.

Brand Names

Cabbage Patch Kids

These are stamped Hasbro and are in fact Cabbage Patch Kids pets. They later became Magic Meadow Ponies and are often times confused with genuine My Little Ponies due to their appearance. They are significantly larger with short legs and a cartoony appearance, their heads are large with a round snout and pronounced knees. They may have yarn or normal hair and usually have a molded saddle. ^[1]^[2]

CPK Fakies

Chap Mei

Chap Mei Pony, note that this specimen has been re-haired but with similar colors.

During Generation 2, Chap Mei entered the market with their own line of ponies. These ponies had an oblong body with short legs and molded decor on their feet, their tails were rooted and had metallic accessories such as winged saddles, crowns and necklaces prone to bleeding the dye into the plastic. There was also a smaller variant of solid PVC ponies with brushable tails that came with metallic saddles. The adult ponies are about 8.5" (11cm) tall while the small ones are roughly 2.5" (7cm).^[3] As of Today Chap Mei focuses solely on manufacturing action figures and playsets. ^[4]

Remco

Remco Unicorn, 'Happy Unicorn'

Remco Earth Pony, 'Clyde Clydesdale'

Remco was active in the early 80s when My Little Pony first started out, they made fakies with painted feet and were stamped Remco at the bottom of their feet. Their activity ceased once the company went bankrupt. ^[5]^[6] Their fakies generally had a rounded stubbly look as the ponies had big heads, round bodies and short thick legs. ^[7] On the packaging the ponies are referred to as 'Pretty Pets' and comes either as Happy Unicorn or a normal pony called Clyde Clydesdale. They came with a flat comb, rainbow necklace and ribbon.

Copies of Remco

There are copies of the Remco ponys that either call themselves 'My Pony' or 'Lovely Pets'. They would come with a ribbon, flat comb and a hair clip, most commonly butterfly shaped. The distinct difference is that these fakies have the appearance of sunken in eyes and strong eyebrows, making them sometimes appear grumpy.

Simba

A company based in Europe, also shortly known as Super Toys between 1993-1994.^[8] The company have been active in making ponies since Generation 1. They are notorious for using Hasbro's own molds of ponies and generally never brand their products, at most 'Made in China'. They are still active today and still produce ponies. Their sets are very generic and have themes such as family and weddings.

Pony Land

Dancing Pony - Ballerina pony fakie
Beauty Friends - Lady Lovely Locks pet fakies
Talky Pony - Battery driven,
Just Married Pony - Battery driven, Buddy L fakie
Pony with Baby
Galoppy Pony - Battery driven, Buddy L fakie
Pony with Baby (Drink 'n Wet)
Ballerina Pony
Dreamland Pony
Cirkus Pony with Baby
Teeny Pony - Sweetheart Sister fakie
Magic Ponies

Pony Land

^[9]

Lanard

Lanard always brand their ponies either on the bellies or bums so they aren't too hard to differ from genuine ponies. Their ponies usually come with names too.

Party Ponies

The early versions of Lanard ponies looked more like a realistic horse, with small eyes on the sides over time they began to have more of a cartoony appearance. The early sets came with a sturdy looking work horse and sometimes a doll, over time they took on a softer appearance and it was then the most common pose was introduced as a foal. ^[10]

Adult Lanard
Adult Lanard Version 2
Baby Lanard

Pony Tails

When Lanard rebooted their brand, they scrapped the concept of painted hooves where one would differ in color but kept the molds. They also introduced a baby pose this run. Pony Tails would often be paired with Fairy Kinz and other Lanard toy lines.

Pony Tails Baby
Pony Tails Adults

Pony Tails (Rebooted)

Currently they are very similar to G4 but with significantly larger ears. This reboot brought in many different poses, the focus shifted from just being vague fairy tail theme to more solid themes such as robin hood and the little mermaid.^[11]

Buddy L

During the early 1990s Buddy L and SLM Inc. entered a partnership to produce the 'Talk to Me Pony'.^[12] They have one pose but come with variations such as horns, wings or saddles. There is also a baby that came in the 'Talk to Me Pony Nursery'. The sets had names such as 'Talk to Me Pony Tales' and 'Talk to Me Pony Magic Unicorn' in this toy line.

Boley

G3 Fakie

These ponies only come in the colors yellow, pink and blue, they all have the same three colors on their manes with the same balloon symbol. Their left back hooves read "Made in China", and they come with one comb and brush. They are somewhat smaller than actual G3's.^[13]

Pony With Accessories

Fakiezilla

Boley also made a larger fakie that is similar to the Mexican Babyzilla pony.

Styling Size pony

Mei Ah

Mei Ah Toys Limited was active from 1984 to 2015 when the company was dissolved by the workforce striking off, unclear why. ^[14] Mei Ah has multiple different types of ponies manufactured, most being referred to as 'Pretty Pony'.

Princess Rinse 'n Spit

Collectors have dubbed this pony "Princess Rinse 'n Spit" because of her extremely pronounced open jaw full of big horsey teeth.

She comes in various colors, and with both plastic and yarn hair.
She (sometimes?) has two different sound mechanisms behind her two differently placed 3-d symbols, and a speaker in her mouth.

Pretty Pony
MIB
MIB

Garland Fakies

These fakies came on a card with a brush that read 'Pretty Pony'. These fakies were only sold in Europe.

So far the following colors have been seen: Pink, Hot Pink, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Dark Green, Lime, Purple

Pretty Pony
MOC
Pink and Yellow

Crumpet Fakies

Collectors have dubbed this pony "Crumpet" because of her pose. The common trait all these fakies have is the simple heart symbol. ^[15]

She comes in various colors, and with many colors of hair and symbols.

Big Brother

Mexico exclusive

Rainbow Love Pets

These fakies have long necks, rooted manes and a small molded tail. They don't have a symbol and have painted feet. The body is thick with longer legs.

Fakies

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