Honestly, if you were hanging out in the My Little Pony fandom back in 2013, you remember the absolute chaos when "Power Ponies" aired. It wasn't just another episode about friendship or baking cupcakes. It was a full-blown comic book homage. We got to see the Mane Six sucked into the world of Maretroplis, taking on superhero personas that felt like a fever dream mashup of the Justice League and the Avengers. Naturally, Hasbro wasn't going to let that golden opportunity slide. They launched the My Little Pony Power Ponies toys, and even years later, these figures occupy this weird, cool niche that standard pony figures just can't touch.
They're different.
Most MLP merch focuses on hair play—brushing long, synthetic manes and tails until they're a frizzy mess. But the Power Ponies line? It leaned into the "action figure" aesthetic. You had molded plastic capes, lightning bolt accessories, and masks that actually stayed on. It was a pivot. For a brand built on soft aesthetics, seeing Rainbow Dash as Zapp or Pinkie Pie as Fili-Second felt like a legitimate crossover event. It’s the kind of thing collectors still hunt for on eBay because, let’s be real, a pony in a cowl is just objectively cooler than a pony with a ribbon.
The Maretropolis Lineup: Which My Little Pony Power Ponies Toys Actually Exist?
If you're trying to track these down now, you've gotta be careful. Not every character got the same treatment. The big heavy hitter was the Power Ponies 6-pack, which was originally a Target exclusive. This set is basically the Holy Grail for this specific sub-series. It included Zapp (Rainbow Dash), Mistress Mare-velous (Applejack), Radiance (Rarity), Masked Matter-Horn (Twilight Sparkle), Fili-Second (Pinkie Pie), and Saddle Rager (Fluttershy).
The detail on these was surprisingly decent for the price point. Take Radiance, for example. In the show, Rarity’s power is basically Green Lantern-esque construct creation. The toy captured that by giving her these translucent, gem-like accessories. Then you have Saddle Rager. Everyone loves Fluttershy, but seeing her as a Hulk-style powerhouse was a trip. The toy designers had to balance her "shy" persona with her "monster" persona, which usually resulted in some pretty expressive face sculpts compared to the standard "staring into your soul" look of the basic brushables.
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There was also a San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) exclusive version of Mane-iac. If you haven't seen it, the packaging looks like a literal comic book. It’s gorgeous. Mane-iac is the villain of the piece, a mad scientist with hair that acts like tentacles. The SDCC version featured "Mayhem" (her hench-pony) and had a much more detailed paint job than the mass-market releases.
Why the Funko Pops Changed the Game
While Hasbro handled the main play-line, Funko stepped in with their vinyl figures. These aren't the big-headed "Pop" figures you see everywhere now—though those exist too—but rather the more "true-to-show" vinyls. The Funko Power Ponies vinyls are heavy. They feel premium. When you hold the Funko version of Spike as Hum Drum, it doesn't feel like a cheap piece of plastic. It feels like a desk centerpiece. Collectors often prefer these because the proportions are closer to the DHX Media animation style. They don't have the "blind bag" tiny scale, which makes them stand out on a shelf.
The Weird World of Exclusives and Rare Variants
Tracking these down in 2026 is a bit of a sport. Prices fluctuate wildly. You might find a loose Pinkie Pie Fili-Second for twenty bucks one day, and the next, a mint-in-box set is going for three hundred. It’s volatile.
One of the rarest pieces is actually the "Power Ponies" version of Princess Celestia. She didn't appear in the episode as a superhero, but Hasbro released a version of her under the branding anyway. It’s essentially a "what if" figure. Then there’s the metallic variants. Some of the smaller figures were released with a shiny, vac-metal finish. They look great under LED lights, but they're prone to chipping. If you’re buying used, always ask for photos of the hooves and ears. That’s where the "paint rub" happens first.
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Quality Control: What to Watch Out For
Let's talk shop. These toys weren't perfect. Because many of them featured molded-on costumes, the range of motion in the neck was often restricted. If you're a customizer or a photographer, this is a pain.
- Paint Bleed: Check the masks. On the smaller 2-inch figures, the yellow paint of the masks often bled into the coat colors.
- Cape Fragility: The capes are usually a softer plastic. Over time, or if kept in a hot attic, they can get "sticky." It’s a chemical breakdown of the plasticizer. You can't really fix it easily.
- The Hum Drum Factor: Spike is tiny. In almost every used set you find online, Spike is missing. He’s the first thing to get lost under a couch or sucked up by a vacuum. If you find a complete set with the Hum Drum figure, buy it.
The Cultural Impact: More Than Just Plastic
Why do we care?
It’s because the My Little Pony Power Ponies toys represented a moment where the show acknowledged its older audience. The episode "Power Ponies" was a love letter to Silver Age comics. By making the toys, Hasbro acknowledged that kids (and adults) wanted to play with their ponies in a different way. They weren't just "pretty"; they were "powerful." It changed the play pattern from grooming to adventure.
It’s also about the lore. The Power Ponies exist within a comic book inside the show. It’s meta. Buying the toys feels like owning a piece of the Friendship is Magic universe’s pop culture. It’s like a human buying a replica of a prop from their favorite movie.
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How to Start Your Collection Today
If you’re just starting, don't try to buy the SDCC Mane-iac first. You’ll go broke. Start with the "Friendship is Magic Collection" small-scale story packs. These were released a bit later and are much more affordable. They come with little environments like the "Power Ponies Comic Book Shop." It’s a great way to get the core cast without spending a paycheck.
You should also look into the Guardians of Harmony line. While not strictly "Power Ponies," the aesthetic is very similar. They feature more points of articulation and "battle" poses. Sometimes you can find a Guardians of Harmony Spike that scales perfectly with the Power Pony figures.
Authentication Tips
Fakes are out there. Luckily, the MLP community is intense about documentation. Real Hasbro figures will have the "My Little Pony" stamp and a date code on the bottom of a hoof. If the plastic feels weirdly light or "hollow," or if the eyes look slightly "off-center," it’s probably a knockoff. The bootlegs often have a very strong chemical smell right out of the package. Avoid those.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
- Check Local Listings First: Skip eBay and hit up Facebook Marketplace or Mercari. Parents often sell these in large "totes" or "lots" without realizing the Power Ponies are worth more than the standard ponies.
- Invest in Display Cases: If you get the metallic variants, keep them out of direct sunlight. The UV rays will fade that shiny finish into a dull, brownish gray within a year.
- Join the Forums: Sites like the MLP Arena or MLPTP have dedicated trade threads. You can often find collectors who are willing to trade a Power Pony for something else you might have, which is way cheaper than buying outright.
- Verify the Accessories: Before clicking "Buy," count the accessories. Does Zapp have her lightning bolt? Does Radiance have her gems? A figure missing its signature gear loses about 40% of its collector value.
The My Little Pony Power Ponies toys are a weird, wonderful bridge between two very different worlds. They prove that you can be magical, friendship-oriented, and still kick a little bit of villain butt in a spandex suit. Whether you're a hardcore collector or just someone who thinks a pony dressed as a superhero is hilarious, these figures are a must-have piece of MLP history.
Find a "Hum Drum" Spike figure. It is the hardest piece to find individually, and completing a set without him feels like a hollow victory. Once you have the full team, they make for one of the most visually striking displays in the entire hobby. Focus on the Target exclusive 6-pack first as your foundation. Then, and only then, start worrying about the SDCC exclusives.