Spotlight on Brazil Ponies
Before you begin, a HUGE thanks has to go out to GustyFox for the fabulous pictures and Brazil tidbits. I couldn’t have done this spotlight without that wealth of information. And of course, thanks must be given to the Arena itself, and all the arena members for allowing me a place to hang out, waste time, and learn about these beauties!
Brazilian ponies are some of the easily recognizable, most unusual and contain some of the most sought after ponies ever. They were produced throughout the 1980s by Estrella.
There are a couple of immediately recognizable features of Brazilian ponies. The most well known trait is their bright and shiny body appearance. While not actually a pearly finish, the bodies of Brazilian ponies give off a soft sheen due to the plastic used. Another unique feature of Brazilian ponies is their hair. The hair on Brazilian ponies is different from the hair used in any other country. The texture is thicker, and much more prone to dryness and frizzing, but there are also colors used that have no exact match to the standard pony colors.
The ponies released were not great in numbers, and contain ponies from only a few sets; the original collector’s pose ponies, early release earth, early release rainbows, so softs, babies and twice and fancy.
The interpretation on the ponies released adds to the uniqueness of the Brazilians. Since there was no unicorn mould in the Estrella factory, a lot of ponies switched species when released. There was also a series of three ponies that were produced without symbols, which is unique to any other country outside of the so-called "prototypes" of Argentina. Brazil also released the only version of a non beddy bye eye Baby Lofty, as well as a sitting version of Bowtie.
Brazilian ponies have two types of hooves. The CP ponies and sitting Bowtie have hooves that are flat and smooth, similar to the Auriken ponies from Mexico. The rest of the ponies have concave hooves. All ponies have the Estrella hoof stamp, and a stamp with the date. The third thing about Brazilian hooves is that each one contains a number, as well as number being present on the back of the ponies neck. (Perhaps a serial number? Anyone know??)
Adult hoof marks
Baby hoof marks
Numbers on the necks of the adult ponies
Pictures courtesy of hodgemo2
Collectors Pose Ponies
5 of the original 6 ponies were given Brazilian CP counterparts; Minty, Butterscotch, Blossom, Cotton Candy and Bluebelle. Oddly enough, no Snuzzle was made. Instead, the 6th CP pony was pulled from the playset collection, and Peachy was produced. All ponies kept their original color schemes, but Blossom is the lone CP pony of the set that was given brown eyeliner instead of the usual black. These ponies are some of the easiest to find of the Brazilian ponies, as well as some of the cheapest.
Algodão Doce – Cotton Candy
Caramelo – Caramel - Butterscotch
Graminha – Little Grass - Minty
Torrãozinho – Sugar Cube – BlueBelle
Drops (or Sweet Drops) – Peachy – Ponei Palace or Pretty Parlor
Florzinha dos Campos - Little Field’s Flower - Blossom – Poneilândia or Show Stable (no Brazil Lemondrop was ever made)
Picture courtesy of hodgemo2
The Collectors Pose Ponies with Clothes
The “original 4” CP ponies, Bluebelle, Minty, Butterscotch and Cotton Candy, were also released wearing different outfits and are all called "Circo de Cavalinhos" (Parade Ponies).
Two more ponies were created in the collector’s pose. Gusty, who lost her horn, and Parasol. Both got to keep their original color scheme, but are fairly hard to find and very sought after.
Bola de Neve – Snow Ball – Gusty (collector pose)
Pingo de Chuva – Rain Drop – Parasol (collector pose)
Picture courtesy of GustyFox
Picture courtesy of Ember1
The Parasol next to Gusty has been rehaired…see below.
Picture courtesy of hodgemo2
The Early Earth Ponies
Only 3 of the early earth ponies made their way into the Brazil line. Applejack and Bubbles made their start in Brazil much like they did in the US, in their original poses and color schemes. Bowtie, however, became only 1 of 5 ponies to ever get released in the sitting pose as well as getting a makeover. The Brazilian Bowtie became green and a rainbow pony. In the original brochure, this Bowtie was shown with solid colored reddish coral hair and it is said that the prototype Bowtie lives in a toy museum in Brazil. Bowtie is one of the most sought after Brazil ponies and fairly hard to find, while the other two are in the middle range of price and availability (Applejack is just a little bit less common)
Rosquinha – Doughnut - Applejack
Quindim – Cheesecake - Bubbles
Lacinho – Little bow tie – Green Bowtie
Oops! Sunlight is chilling with the early earth instead of rainbows...
Picture courtesy of hodgemo2
Picture courtesy of GustyFox
The Rainbow Ponies
Three rainbow ponies made their way through the hands of Estrella: Sunlight, Starshine and Moonstone (who actually got released with the Twice as Fancy set). While Sunlight and Starshine kept their original look, Moonstone lost her horn and gained wings! Starshine appears fairly often, but Sunlight and Moonstone appear less often and Moonstone is the most sought after of this set. (Sunlight appears in the early earth ponies picture)
Asinha de Bolinha – Ball´s Wing - Moonstone
Asinha de Açucar – Sugar’s Wing – Starshine
Céuzinho – Little Sky – Sunlight
Picture courtesy of hodgemo2
The Playset Pony
Sprinkles also made an appearance and is very similar to her US release. She is fairly easy to find and on the cheaper end of the spectrum. The Banho de cascata playset came with Duck Soup who is smaller and made of hard plastic.
Asinha Molhada – Wet Wing – Sprinkles – Cascade
Picture courtesy of hodgemo2
The Pony Friends
This is the series that, on the whole, saw the most changes in the Brazil factory, as well as being the largest set. Magic Star, North Star, Heart Throb, Truly, Paradise, Shady, Windwhistler, Twist and Ribbon were produced. Magic Star, Paradise and Shady were kept the same as the US release. North Star and Windwhistler merely got a pose change. Ribbon and Twist lost their horns, Truly became a Pegasus and Heart Throb became a rainbow pony with a yellow body. Most of this set are a bit harder to find and fairly popular.
Asinha Rosa dos Ventos – CompassRose´s Wing - North Star
Asinha Banho de Lua – MoonShower´s Wing – Paradise
Asinha de Apito – Whistler´s Wing – Wind Whistler
Asinha de Mel – Honey´s Wing – Heart Throb
Batatinha Doce – Sweet Potato - Twist
Óculos de Sol – Sun Glasses - Shady
Varinha de Condão – Magic Wand – Magic Star
Fitinha – Little Ribbon - Ribbon
Asinha do Amor – Love’s Wing - Truly
Pictures courtesy of hodgemo2
Pictures courtesy of GustyFox
The Twice as Fancy Ponies
Only 5 of the TAF ponies were produced, but they are another collector favorite, and everyone had at least some pose change. Love Melody, Sugarberry, Up Up and Away and Dancing Butterflies merely changed poses, but Milky Way lost her horn and became one of the 3 rearing pose ponies. Of this set, Milky Way is the most sought after, but Love Melody and Sugarberry are also favorites of collectors.
Caraçãozinho – Little Hearts – TAF Love Melody
Pudim de Morango – Strawberry Pudding – TAF Sugarberry
Balãozinho – Little Balloons – TAF Up Up and away
Chuva de Estrelas – Star´s Rain – TAF Milk Way
Asinha de Borboleta – Butterfly´s Wing – TAF Dancing Butterflies
Shady sneaked in for this picture.
Pictures courtesy of hodgemo2
Picture courtesy of GustyFox
The Babies
Only 5 babies were made and there seemed to be no rhyme or reason in deciding which to make. Baby Cotton Candy kept her original pose and color scheme. The two playset ponies, Baby Tiddlywinks and Cuddles, each got a pose change. Baby Lofty got to loose her Beddy Bye Eyes, and Baby Lofty lost her horn. None of the babies are particularly easy to find, but Baby Lofty and Gusty are definitely the most sought after.
Bola de Neve – Snow Ball - Gusty
Asinha do Céu – Sky’s Wing - Lofty
Algodão doce – Cotton Candy
Chocalinho – Cuddles – Baby Buggy
Papinha - Tiddlywinks - Nursery
Pictures courtesy of GustyFox
The "no symbol" Ponies or Circo de Cavalinhos 2.0
Because once is never enough, four of the already produced Brazil ponies got to make a second appearance, without their symbols, but wear clothes! Bowtie, Bubbles, Gusty and Parasol were all made in the shy pose and this time Bowtie got to revert to original color scheme (though the reddish/coral hair is a color that is different from her original pink and impossible to match)
Noivinha – Little Bride – Parasol (shy pose, symboless)
Tenista -Tennis Player - Bowtie (shy pose, symboless)
Festinha - Little Party – Cascade (shy pose, symboless)
Escocês - Scottish – Gusty (shy pose, symboless)
Pictures courtesy of hodgemo2
Picture courtesy of GustyFox
The Os Fofhinos
While the So Soft set made their way out of the factory minus their flocking, Estrella still felt the need to releases some “So Soft” ponies of their own. About 3 inches tail, these “ponies” are made of a soft felt, yarn hair and are almost entirely 2 dimensional. Only 4 were made: Minty, Butterscotch, Cotton Candy and Bluebelle.
Picture courtesy of GustyFox and Linda84
Something you may now have known
Estrella once had what was known as “Doll’s Hospitals” in Brazil. Those are "stores" for fixing and repairing toys (like a costumer care). If you take a pony or a doll to a hospital they would fix it, with same original materials used on the factory. Any ponies rehaired at that time were rehaired with the original “Estrella hair” ---thanks to Gusty Fox for that interesting tidbit!
Dolls Hospital rehair courtesy of pinkkittywinks
What condition can you expect to find them in?
Brazil ponies are NOTORIOUS for having frizzy hair. Quite a few are often found with haircuts and frizzy hair. A lot of them seem to be very well loved by the time they make it into collector’s hand and often fall victim to pen marks or other marks along the way. On the other hand, the symbols appear to be surprisingly sturdy and the plastic doesn’t appear to be prone to cancer or regrind.
What about Merchandise?
A few stationary sets were released with the various Brazil ponies. The infamous red hair sitting Bowtie is also a featured pony. Brazil also released a single version of Medley, but she wasn’t a pony. Well, not really. She was a paint able figure!
Picture courtesy of GustyFox
And, since one mention was not enough:
A HUGE thanks has to go out to GustyFox for the fabulous pictures and Brazil tidbits. I couldn’t have done this spotlight without that wealth of information. And of course, thanks must be given to the Arena itself, and all the arena members for allowing me a place to hang out, waste time, and learn about these beauties!
The Nirvana Spotlights were kindly written and donated to the MLParena by members. Please respect the Nirvana Spotlights and the MLParena and do not take pictures or information for use on eBay, personal sales or webpages.
A big thank you got Shelti who saved each of the spotlights. This spotlight was first published in 2007.