1988:

COLOUR CHANGE BABY SEA PONIES
(A.K.A Watercolor Baby Sea Ponies)

For a long time, this set of Sea Ponies has remained something of a mystery. Though they have been found - and even bought new - here in the United Kingdom, little evidence seemed to exist to indicate whether or not they were imports or official issue.

I must thank Selena, Lady Guinevere and Chrissytree for their assistance finding the solution to this little problem!

In the United States, a set of six baby sea ponies was released in 1988. They turned out to be the final set of Baby Sea Ponies and, as such, they were the most ambitious set to date. Named 'Watercolor' Baby Sea Ponies, these six new characters had bodies and hair which would change colour in warm water. Sadly, over time, many of these ponies became 'stuck' in their changed colours, or in between, making identification sometimes more difficult (and only adding to the confusion attached to the UK release).

Although they are not mentioned on any Hasbro insert or on the list they provided me with in 1995, it is evident that four out of this set of six were sold in the United Kingdom. They were released here under the name 'Colour Change Baby Sea Ponies' on blue cards with patterned borders, and it seems likely that they were sold around 1989, since the one bit of existing publicity featured the baby 'Foamy' in a group picture with other ponies sold in 1989.

Misty and Seawinkle were never sold in the United Kingdom.

Surprisingly, in Germany and probably other German speaking countries, these ponies were sold on German dubbed cards in both the US and the UK style - meaning that all six of the set did actually see a continental release.

WAVEDANCER: MINT ON CARD (US STYLE, GERMAN LANGUAGE)
Thanks to Einhornbaby for the use of this image!

The reasons behind this remain unknown.

Identifying loose Colour Change Baby Sea Ponies can prove a challenge, as there is only one definitive way of recognising them. This is by checking the colour of their fin paint, as this was unaffected by the heat changing function in the plastic.

The fin paint colours are as follows:
Wavedancer: Dark Purple
Sealight: Yellow
Seawinkle:Aqua
Misty: Lavender
Foamy: Pink
Seashore: Orange