What was the name of the 1981 precursor to the My Little Pony toy line?

The name of the 1981 precursor to the My Little Pony toy line was My Pretty Pony.

Hasbro introduced My Pretty Pony before the smaller, colorful ponies that became the My Little Pony brand. The original figure was unusually large for the later franchise, measuring about 10 inches tall, and was made from hard plastic. It included mechanical features such as a moving tail, wiggling ears, and a blinking eye.

The first My Little Pony toys followed in 1982, after the relative lack of success of My Pretty Pony. Those smaller figures introduced the colorful designs and flank symbols that became central to the brand. Collectors generally classify the 1982–1992 American run as Generation 1, but My Pretty Pony predates that generation and is treated as its direct predecessor. “Rainbow Ponies” was a later product group, while “Ponyland” refers to the fictional setting used in early media rather than the precursor toy’s name.