Prototype Ponies

This page is devoted to "the ponies that weren't." This page features various stages of My Little Pony prototypes from Generation 1 that did not make it to production. During G1 Hasbro seemed to pretty consistently change their mind after the prototype was made and all the related media produced, resulting in the ponies that were actually produced looking somewhat different than in the ads, in their pamphlets and on their backcards.

Blank Ponies

This includes utterly blank ponies, ponies missing hair, and/or symbols, or any combination. Some blank ponies are totally unidentified, were as some are clearly prototypes of particular characters.

Blank red unicorn

Baby Sparkle Firefly

This Baby Sparkle Firefly has no paint, no mane plug holes and no tail hole.

Coco Berry

This Sundae Best Coco Berry has an unpainted pink body and green hair, rather than the final blue body with pink hair. It was found at a flea market, was made in Hong Kong and is stamped "87 Hasbro" on one hoof. The original finder nicknamed it Teresies.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Powder Pose
• Body: Pink
• Hair: Green
• Eyes: Unpainted
• Symbol: An unpainted 3D ice cream cone

Final Pony Stats

• Pose: Powder Pose
• Body: Blue
• Hair: "Fading" pink
• Eyes: Aqua
• Symbol: A pink and yellow 3D ice cream cone

Takara Ochame Ponies

These are prototypes of the four Ochame ponies (translation: "playful ponies") from Takara's Osharena pony ("fashionable pony") line.

They were created to model the different hair styles (and in some cases different hair textures) the different ponies would have. A major difference from the retail versions is that these prototypes do not have eyes (which are a separate piece of plastic on Takara adults).

The papers they are shown with are documentation from Takara.

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  Amiami

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  Fuwafuwa

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  Sarasara

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  Kurukuru

Toys That Were Never Produced

Beddy Bye Eye Ponies

A NBBE Baby Truly was included in a prototype set of the Beddy Bye Eye Baby Ponies shown in a retail catalogue, along with a NBBE Baby Shady in the Baby Cuddles Pose.

Prototype Pony Stats - Baby Truly

• Pose: Baby Glory Pose
• Body: White
• Hair: Red
• Eyes: Teal
• Symbol: A teal dove with red hearts

Prototype Pony Stats - Baby Shady

• Pose: Baby Cuddles Pose
• Body: Magenta
• Hair: Bright yellow
• Eyes: Teal
• Symbol: Three pairs of white sunglasses with blue lenses

Final Pony Stats - Baby Shady

• Pose: Baby BBE Earth Pose
• Body: Hot pink
• Hair: Chartreuse
• Eyes: Blue
• Symbol: Three pairs of blue sunglasses with white lenses

Fancy Swirl Ponies (Celestial / Fairy Bright Ponies)

Fancy Swirl Ponies artwork by Allison Boiselle

Prototype Fancy Swirl pony at Pony Fair West

Packaging art and prototypes for these ponies were produced, but the ponies were never officially released during G1. They are often referred to as the Celestial ponies or Fairy Bright ponies by fans, but Hasbro's trademarked name for the set was the Fancy Swirl ponies.

A prototype of a Fancy Swirl pony was on display at Pony Fair 2022, and later at Pony Fair West the same year. She is made of resin which has been painted. Unlike the art for the set, she is a pegasus. She has the same symbol as the pink Fancy Swirl pony named "Starswirl" (lower right in the official art), but different hair and body colors. According to the original designer, the Precious Pocket Pony poses would have been used for this set.

According to the official Fancy Swirl backcard, their names were:

• "Starswirl" (Pink Pony)
• "Mistyglow" (White Pony)
• "Swirlabout" (Blue Pony)
• "Pearlshine" (Purple Pony)

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Zazzle previously used to carry officially licensed merchandise featuring the backcard art.

These ponies eventually got an official release for the 40th Anniversary of the franchise, being created by Basic Fun after a letter-writing campaign by fans. They were released under the set name "Celestial Ponies", were given new names and poses, and feature slightly different colours from the backcard art:

• "Milky Way" (Pink Pony, Tootsie Pose)
• "Polaris" (Light Blue Pony, Posey Pose)
• "Nova" (Blue Pony, Tootsie Pose)
• "Aurora" (Magenta Pony, Posey Pose)

Artwork Pony Stats - Pink

• Body Colour: Pink with lighter pink swirls
• Hair Colour: Pink
• Eye Colour: Darker pink
• Symbol: Greeen and orange stars

Artwork Pony Stats - White

• Body Colour: White with blue swirls
• Hair Colour: Pink
• Eye Colour: Pink
• Symbol: A pink and yellow plant and moon in front of a cloud

Artwork Pony Stats - Blue

• Body Colour: Blue with purple swirls
• Hair Colour: Lighter blue
• Eye Colour: Goldenrod
• Symbol: A pink and yellow cloud with hearts and lightning bolts

Artwork Pony Stats - Purple

• Body Colour: Purple with pink swirls
• Hair Colour: Turquoise
• Eye Colour: Seafoam green
• Symbol: A light and dark blue ringed planet with moons

Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Surprise Pose
• Body: Pink with white swirls
• Hair: White with clear tinsel
• Eyes: Pink
• Symbol: Green and orange stars

Pony Friends

A page from a retail catalogue shows that first set of Pony Friends was originally supposed to come with a human friend for each animal, Zinnia for Zig Zag the zebra, Cornelia for Spunky the camel, Alyssa for Creamsicle the giraffe and someone whose name begins with a K for Kingsley the lion.

First Tooth Baby Sundance

Screenshot from ad

Also featured in the catalogue listing is a NBBE Baby Sundance, who appears as a First Tooth baby pony. This same design appears in a commercial for the Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe playset.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Baby Tic Tac Toe Pose
• Body: White
• Hair: Pink
• Eyes: Blue
• Symbol: Two rings of pink hearts

Final Pony Stats

• Pose: Baby BBE Earth Pose
• Body: White
• Hair: Pink
• Eyes: Blue
• Symbol: A circle of pink hearts and triangles

Pretty Mane Ponies

Pretty Mane Ponies artwork

This Hasbro artwork by Allison Boiselle depicts a set of six Pretty Mane Ponies, rather than the only two that were released and sold as mail orders, Dabble and Scribbles.

Artwork Pony Stats - Turquoise

• Body Colour: Turquoise
• Hair Colour: Red with teal horizontal stripes
• Eye Colour: Pale pink
• Symbol: Red and teal abstract shapes

Artwork Pony Stats - Yellow

• Body Colour: Yellow
• Hair Colour: Green with purple horizontal stripes
• Eye Colour: Pink
• Symbol: Green and purple abstract shapes

Artwork Pony Stats - Blue

• Body Colour: Blue
• Hair Colour: Yellow with orange horizontal stripes
• Eye Colour: Pink
• Symbol: Yellow and orange abstract shapes

Artwork Pony Stats - Magenta

• Body Colour: Magenta
• Hair Colour: Turquoise with yellow horizontal stripes
• Eye Colour: Blue
• Symbol: Turquoise and yellow abstract shapes

Skateboard Unicorn

Radical, dude!

This mysterious prototype unicorn was displayed at Pony Fair 2022 and later at Pony Fair West the same year, along with the Fancy Swirl prototype and the Year 6 Princess pony prototypes. Her intended set or purpose is unknown.

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Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Powder Pose
• Body: Yellow
• Hair: White
• Eyes: Light blue
• Symbol: A pink and purple unicorn riding a skateboard

Sweet-Ice Delight Cottage

Pamphlet

The Sweet Ice Delight Cottage was a planned playset that doubled as a sno-cone maker, and was seen in both a catalogue and advertising pamphlet. It would have come with a cottage with an attached windmill, various pony accessories including a pair of chairs and a table with an umbrella, a pony-shaped syrup bottle, a shovel and cup, and two packets of Kool-Aid Brand Soft Drink Mix.

Irresistibles

Irresistibles were a toy line shown in the 1991 Hasbro Toy Fair Catalog, though never produced. They were not going to be associated directly with My Little Pony, but they are in Dream Beauty molds. There were six planned collections:

• The Shimmers Collection - clear bodies filled with glitter
• The Colorburst Collection - clear bodies filled with beads
• The Razzle Dazzle Collection - clear bodies filled with miniature stars of some sort
• The Crystallines Collection - pastel, frosted plastic
• The Funfetti Collection - clear bodies filled with confetti
• The Firelights Collection - bright, neon plastic

Other Prototypes

Shy Pose

Prototype pony in the Bow Tie Pose

This early example of the "shy pose", also known as the Bow Tie Pose, is light blue with white hair, with darker blue speckles for her symbols.

This prototype lives at Hasbro. She is occasionally shown off at conventions and the like. She is hand carved from a hard wax and hand painted.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Bow Tie Pose
• Body: Light blue
• Hair: White
• Eyes: Blue
• Symbol: Blue spots

Collector Ponies

Minty in a French catalogue

Originally all six of the Collector Ponies were going to have the same symbol as Cotton Candy: appaloosa-style speckles. Prototypes of Blossom and other ponies with the speckles can be seen in the earliest G1 toy commercial and a prototype of Minty can be found in a French catalogue.

• TV Ad Screenshots
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  Screenshot of Blossom from TV ad

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  Screenshot of Blue Belle from TV ad

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  Screenshot of Butterscotch from TV ad

Prototype Pony Stats - Blossom

• Symbol: White speckles

Final Pony Stats - Blossom

• Symbol: Eleven white flowers

Prototype Pony Stats - Blue Belle

• Symbol: Dark blue speckles

Final Pony Stats - Blue Belle

• Symbol: Twelve periwinkle stars

Prototype Pony Stats - Butterscotch

• Symbol: Orange speckles

Final Pony Stats - Butterscotch

• Symbol: Seven orange butterflies

Prototype Pony Stats - Minty

• Symbol: Blue speckles

Final Pony Stats - Minty

• Symbol: Eleven dark green clovers

Majesty

Prototype Majesty from the Dream Castle commercial

An example of a G1 comic book with Majesty's prototype symbol

In the commercial for Dream Castle a prototype of Majesty has a symbol of six round-petaled flowers with yellow centers. Majesty has this prototype symbol design, often with seven flowers, in some G1 comics and storybooks.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Symbol: Six round-petaled flowers

Final Pony Stats

• Symbol: Five glittery blue flowers styled like ermine-spots

Sprinkles

Pamphlet shows sea ponies and prototype blue Sprinkles (far right)

Screenshot from ad

Sprinkles was originally going to be blue with slightly darker blue symbols and hair. The prototype also has fewer, slightly larger ducks than the final version. A more purple-tinted blue version of Sprinkles with the four duck symbol can be seen in the commercial for the Waterfall playset. This colouration can be sometimes seen on merchandise, such as a party favour yo-yo.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Firefly Pose
• Body: Blue/purple-ish blue
• Hair: Darker blue
• Eyes: Darker blue
• Symbol: Four blue ducks

Final Pony Stats

• Pose: Firefly Pose
• Body: Pale pink-purple
• Hair: Blue
• Eyes: Blue
• Symbol: Six blue ducks

Sundance

It's unclear if the pony shown here is a true prototype, it's possible she's a very well-done custom made from a Birthflower pony base.

At least one Sundance was made in the Collectors Pose, seen in a catalogue ad for the Show Stable or, potentially, Megan's Place..

Twinkle Eyed Ponies

Prototype versions of the first set of Twinkle Eyed Ponies can be found in a toy fair retail catalogue, including Masquerade in Whizzer's pose and Whizzer in Masquerade's pose.

Prototype Pony Stats - Masquerade

• Pose: Whizzer Pose

Final Pony Stats - Masquerade

• Pose: Lofty Pose

Prototype Pony Stats - Whizzer

• Pose: Lofty Pose

Final Pony Stats - Whizzer

• Pose: Whizzer Pose

Paradise

Promotional photos of the UK version of Paradise Estate show a non-So Soft version of Paradise. This version was never actually sold, with or without Paradise Estate.

So Soft Ponies

Twist's backcard

On the backcards for the So Soft Ponies Bouncy, Fifi, Hippity Hop, Scrumptious, Skippity Doo and Twist, three of the six are featured as different pony types than their respective toy forms. Fifi is drawn as an earth pony rather than a unicorn. Hippity Hop appears as a unicorn instead of a pegasus, and Skippity Doo is shown as a pegasus as opposed to her earth pony toy form. This may have been the original plan for those three ponies, but it was different by the time of toy production.

It is interesting to note that Skippity Doo replaces Heart Throb, a pegasus, and Fifi replaces Cherries Jubilee, an earth pony, compared to the backcard art from the other 16 So Soft Ponies. Hippity Hop replaces Lickety-Split, but Lickety-Split is correctly depicted as an earth pony in the artwork.

Cloud Puff

A version of the Flutter Pony Cloud Puff seen in a wholesale catalogue has a darker blue-ish purple body colour.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Body: Blue-purple

Final Pony Stats

• Body: Pink-purple

Pretty Beat

Full page

Prototype Pretty Beat, as seen in a retail catalogue, is blue instead of pink.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Body: Blue

Final Pony Stats

• Body: Dark pink

Birthday Pony

Pamphlet showing the prototype Birthday Pony. MIB picture in bottom right corner.

The Birthday Pony prototype was in the Posey Pose and her symbols were red, blue and yellow. Her packaging also differed from the final design.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Posey Pose
• Body: White
• Hair: Pink with blue tinsel and blue, pink and silver streamers in tail
• Eyes: Blue
• Symbol: Red, blue and yellow stars, hearts, streamers and confetti

Final Pony Stats

• Pose: Gingerbread Pose
• Body: White
• Hair: Pink with blue tinsel and blue, pink and silver streamers in tail
• Eyes: Blue
• Symbol: Pink, blue and purple stars, hearts, streamers and confetti

Precious Pocket Ponies

Catalogue page

Catalogue page, top-down angle

The Precious Pocket Ponies were originally in different poses instead of their unique final ones, with Li'l Pocket being in the Posey Pose, Sweet Pocket being a unicorn in the Powder Pose instead of an earth pony, and Bunny Hop and Bubblefish in the Quackers Pose. Additionally, Bubblefish had a red cat on her symbol reaching towards the fish bowl and Li'l Pocket's coin was gold instead of purple. Both of these can still be seen on the final backcard.

Prototype Pony Stats - Bubblefish

• Pose: Quackers Pose
• Symbol: A 3D clear plastic fishbowl pocket on a red and blue painted stand with a yellow plastic fish on a string, along with a red cat reaching towards the bowl

Final Pony Stats - Bubblefish

• Pose: Bubblefish Pose
• Symbol: A 3D clear plastic fishbowl pocket on a red and blue painted stand with a yellow plastic fish on a string

Prototype Pony Stats - Bunny Hop

• Pose: Quackers Pose

Final Pony Stats - Bunny Hop

• Pose: Bunny Hop Pose

Prototype Pony Stats - Li'l Pocket

• Pose: Posey Pose
• Symbol: A 3D pink piggy bank pocket surrounded by painted yellow and pink butterflies and flowers with a gold coin on a string

Final Pony Stats - Li'l Pocket

• Pose: Bunny Hop Pose
• Symbol: A 3D pink piggy bank pocket surrounded by painted yellow and pink butterflies and flowers with a purple coin on a string

Prototype Pony Stats - Sweet Pocket

• Pose: Powder Pose

Final Pony Stats - Sweet Pocket

• Pose: Bubblefish Pose

Dance 'n Prance Ponies

Screenshot from US TV ad

The Dance 'n Prance Ponies were originally going to use a variety of poses, rather than just the Powder Pose and its modified horn-less version. Player and Songster were going to be pegasus ponies, a species missing from the final set. Tap Dancer also had a blue body, rather than purple. These designs can be seen both in a toy catalogue and in a TV commercial that was aired in several countries, and occasionally on miscellaneous pieces of merchandise such as stickers.

Prototype Pony Stats - Player

• Pose: Whizzer Pose

Final Pony Stats - Player

• Pose: No Horn Powder Pose

Prototype Pony Stats - Songster

• Pose: Whizzer Pose

Final Pony Stats - Songster

• Pose: No Horn Powder Pose

Prototype Pony Stats - Swinger

• Pose: ???

Final Pony Stats - Swinger

• Pose: No Horn Powder Pose

Prototype Pony Stats - Tap Dancer

• Pose: ???
• Body: Blue

Final Pony Stats - Tap Dancer

• Pose: No Horn Powder Pose
• Body: Purple

Princess Ponies

Some of the accessories for the Princess Ponies seen in a toy catalogue are in different colours than the final releases. Only the differences are listed here.

In addition, Princess Sparkle appears to have the same blue hair as Princess Primrose and Princess Starburst's hair appears to be pink rather than purple.

Prototype Accessories - Princess Primrose

• Star Pick: Pink
• Wand: Dark pink

Final Accessories - Princess Primrose

• Star Pick: Light purple
• Wand: Purple

Prototype Accessories - Princess Royal Blue

• Star Pick: Pink
• Wand: Dark pink

Final Accessories - Princess Royal Blue

• Star Pick: Purple
• Wand: Light purple-pink

Prototype Accessories - Princess Sparkle

• Damsel Hat: Pink with dark blue ribbons

Final Accessories - Princess Sparkle

• Damsel Hat: Pink with aqua ribbons

Prototype Pony - Princess Sparkle

• Hair: Blue with tinsel

Final Pony - Princess Sparkle

• Hair: Aqua with tinsel

Prototype Accessories - Princess Starburst

• Damsel Hat: Yellow with purple ribbons

Final Accessories - Princess Starburst

• Damsel Hat: Yellow with gold ribbons

Prototype Pony - Princess Starburst

• Hair: Pink with tinsel

Final Pony - Princess Starburst

• Hair: Purple with tinsel

Prototype Accessories - Princess Tiffany

• Star Pick: Purple

Final Accessories - Princess Tiffany

• Star Pick: Light pink, pink or blue

Satin 'n Lace

A pony labeled as Satin 'n Lace appears in the Collectors Pose in a mail order pamphlet, though based on the hair and body colour it is likely that this is a Cotton Candy acting as a stand-in.

Dream Beauties

Some of the prototype Dream Beauties seen in a retail catalogue are in different poses or have different colours from their final versions.

Some of the accessories shown next to the prototypes are also different, using combs and picks different from the ones the final relases came with.

The MIB packaging seen in the catalogue also has some minor differences, such as the example Dream Beauty printed on Dream Gleamer's box seemingly being a white pony with pink hair on the prototype box, and Crystalline on the final packaging.

Prototype Accessories - Crystalline

• Brush: Purple Flower Brush

Final Accessories - Crystalline

• Brush: Lavender Flower Pick

Prototype Accessories - Dream Gleamer

• Brush: Light aqua Flower Brush

Final Accessories - Dream Gleamer

• Brush: Mint green Flower Pick

Prototype Pony Stats - Morninglory

• Pose: Crystalline Pose

Final Pony Stats - Morninglory

• Pose: Stardazzle Pose

Prototype Pony Stats - Skysplasher

• Symbol: Pink and yellow swirls with a pink and yellow bird

Final Pony Stats - Skysplasher

• Symbol: Pink and blue swirls with a pink and blue bird

Prototype Pony Stats - Stardazzle

• Body: Purple

Final Pony Stats - Stardazzle

• Body: Orange

Baby Birthday Ponies

The mail order Baby Birthday Ponies, Baby Gametime and Baby Sugarcake, were originally going to be boy ponies. The prototype boy ponies also have some differences in colours.

Prototype Pony Stats - Baby Gametime

• Pose: Baby Boy Pose
• Body: Pale pink
• Hair: Yellow with two "fading" pink stripes
• Eyes: Green

Final Pony Stats - Baby Gametime

• Pose: Baby Ember Pose
• Body: Pink
• Hair: Yellow with one "fading" pink stripe
• Eyes: Blue

Prototype Pony Stats - Baby Sugarcake

• Pose: Baby Boy Pose
• Hair: Blue with two white stripes

Final Pony Stats - Baby Sugarcake

• Pose: Baby Ember Pose
• Hair: "Fading" pink with one blue stripe

Sunspot

This is a test run Sunspot for the Sparkle Pony set. She has round and square confetti embedded in her translucent body, with the circles being glow-in-the-dark. Unlike regular Sunspot, her hair does not have any tinsel and she has yellow instead of light blue eyes.

It was confirmed by former Hasbro designer Susanne Riette-Keith, who helped design the Sparkle Ponies, that this pony was a test to see what looked better in this particular set of ponies. They ended up going with glitter flakes. This gimmick would later be used in the Glow 'n Show Ponies, and would visually be the most similar to the blue-hearts version of Dazzleglow.

She was found in the United States.

Markings

• Rear left hoof "Hong Kong"
• Rear right hoof "Hasbro Pat Pend", no year

Prototype Pony Stats

• Body: Translucent Orange with blue square and white glow-in-the-dark circle confetti
• Hair: "Fading pink"
• Eyes: Yellow
• Symbol: A pink and yellow smiling sun

Final Pony Stats

• Body: Translucent orange with embedded glitter
• Hair: "Fading pink" with gold tinsel
• Eyes: Aqua
• Symbol: A pink and yellow smiling sun

Shady

Shady as seen in one of the So Soft Pony TV ads

Prototype Shady, as seen in one of the So Soft Pony commercials, has yellow hair that is more golden than the bright neon hair of the final release. Her symbols are also white sunglasses with blue lenses, rather than the other way around.

Prototype Pony Stats

• Pose: Gingerbread Pose
• Body: Pink
• Hair: Golden yellow
• Eyes: Aqua
• Symbol: Five pairs of white sunglasses with blue lenses

Final Pony Stats

• Pose: Gingerbread Pose
• Body: Pink
• Hair: Chartreuse
• Eyes: Aqua
• Symbol: Five pairs of blue sunglasses with white lenses