1988: Sparkle Ponies

STARDANCER

Store release: Purple glittered earth pony with blue mane and tail streaked with dark pink tinsel. Dancing white and yellow stars symbol. NO symbol on cheek.

As has already been mentioned, the Sparkle Ponies are a confusing breed, and keeping the store issue and the mail order release on the same page seems the easiest way of preventing further confusion about these releases!

Stardancer's name and symbol relates to an obvious conclusion - this girl liked dancing with stars. In the comics she played an occasional role and generally appeared when other Sparkle Ponies were involved in a story. The only one I really remember is the one about an enchanted nightlight that bathed both her and Napper in moondust. It's unclear whether this was intended to be how they got their sparkle, however - since they are drawn as sparkling ponies all the way through the story!

One important note to make of Sparkle Ponies is that the normal rules are sometimes suspended. In many stories - backcard and comic - the Sparkle Ponies were able to fly through one means or another - even the ones who did not possess wings!

Mail Order Edition: Purple glittered earth pony with blue mane and tail streaked with dark pink tinsel. Dancing white and yellow stars symbol. Yellow star on cheek.

Officially, the mail order versions were not sold in the United Kingdom. Unofficially, there have been claims that some were found sealed onto cards both here and in North America, as if Hasbro were getting rid of surplus stock.

Such claims remain unverified, but may explain the small number of mail-order Sparkle Ponies that have been found in the United Kingdom.