"Ponies are wonderful friends! They love to play together and have exciting adventures. They're also good listeners, and are always ready to help a friend who needs their support. Every year the ponies celebrate their friendships at a magical ball, where one special pony is named Best Friend of the Year! The big event is almost here!"
Friendship Ball was the theme for 2004. This year is known for lots of dress-up sets and lots of sparkle! It was also the start of the Perfectly Pony assortment (a combination of rainbow and glitter ponies). Sparkle, Jewel, and Super Long Hair ponies were also introduced. Easter ponies joined the holiday selection of ponies. This year, ponies no longer come with charms and friendship ribbons. Many ponies and playsets were re-released this year.
Glitter ponies have tinsel in their hair. Daisyjo and Strawberry Swirl are re-issues. 3rd Edition Glitter Ponies were released with and without 30 bonus stickers. Both releases came with a bow brush. Glitter Ponies were later combined with Rainbow Ponies to make up the Perfectly Pony assortment.
Rainbow Ponies have multiple colors in their mane and tail. Fluttershy and Tink-a-tink-a-too are re-issues. 3rd Edition Rainbow Ponies were released with and without 30 bonus stickers. Both releases came with a bow brush. Rainbow Ponies were later combined with Glitter Ponies to make up the Perfectly Pony assortment.
Baby ponies were also released in special 3-packs with 3rd Edition Rainbow Ponies. They are Target Exclusive. They came with two bow brushes. Pink Sunsparkle is a re-issue. Keen Bean remains exclusive to this set.
Later in 2004, Hasbro combined Rainbow Ponies and Glitter Ponies to create the Perfectly Pony assortment. They came with a bow brush and 2 pony points. The 2nd edition of Perfectly ponies were later available at the Build-a-Pony section of Downtown Disney's Once Upon a Toy Store.
Sparkle Ponies were released with newly designed "Friendship Ball" packages. Sparkle Ponies have glitter on their foreheads and symbols. 1st Edition Sparkle ponies also have elaborate hoof heart designs. Savannah Sage and Blue Mist are Target exclusives.
Jewel Ponies were first introduced in 2004. Jewel ponies have a small gemstone incorporated into their symbol. 1st Edition Jewel ponies also have elaborate hoof heart designs. They came with a bow brush. Juniper Jade and Winterberry are Target Exclusives (Big W exclusives in Australia).
2004 introduced the first Easter ponies. They were a Target Exclusive. They came with a hat and a bow brush and were packaged on cards in special egg shaped plastic.
Their packages were also decorated with Easter designs.
2004 introduced the first Spring Basket ponies. They come with a set of three ponies and other accessories. They come with a plastic basket/bucket.
Winter Series II was released exclusively at Target again this year. They came with winter accessories and a bow brush.
Their packages were also decorated with Winter designs.
Every day is full of magic at the Disney Theme Parks. These little ponies are excited about meeting their favorite Princess. Will it be Belle, Cinderella, Aurora or Ariel?
Available only at Disney’s Once Upon a Toy store (located in Downtown Disney), at certain park stores, or through Disney’s Merchandise Mail Order, this special set of ponies came dressed as Disney princesses, with a colored cape, a princess hat, and tail bow. The names of the princess are printed on the hat. The boxes have Mickey Ears on the 3 and Up label and the back of the box shows the ponies and the castle. - info from www.ponytopia.com
Ponies also come with a bow brush.
Sunshimmer is a jewel pony, which was first issued as a substitution for the 2003 limited edition pony, Dazzle Surprise, in the Pony Points program. In mid-2004, she would be available for order in exchange for 16 points collected off product packages. She was available for a few months and was then removed due to order volume. - info courtesy of www.ponytopia.com
Sunshimmer was packaged in a clear plastic bag with a paper insert about her.
1st Edition Super Long Hair ponies were re-released with unnamed bonus babies. These babies were later released in different sets and given names. New SLH ponies, Aloha Pearl and Wing Song were released as Toys R Us and Target Exclusives. Unlike other packages, Wing Song was also released with a hair scrunchie.
Special ponies were released with ballet and ice skating accessories. They came with fun dress up accessories, a stand that lights up their crowns when you push the button, and a rolling base that makes them twirl. Their shoes on their back legs do not come off. They also have a unique body that twists at their belly. They were later released with bonus ponies and a bonus baby.
These Sweet ponies enjoy dancing and skating on a spinning platform!
Place pony on a pedestal and her tiara lights up and twinkles! Push pedestal forward and pony spins around!
Glitter Glide and Loop-de-la were re-released with bonus ponies. Minty II is considered a rare pony and is exclusive to this set. Sparkleworks II was released multiple times but this version is unique since she has a reversed symbol.
Baby Goody Gumdrop was also released as a bonus pony with Glitter Glide and Loop-de-la. These bonus sets were a Walgreens exclusive and are hard to find.
Special 2-packs were released in plastic zip up bags. Sunshower and Luau came with two flower brushes and were a Wal-mart exclusive. Pick-a-Lilly and Sunny Salsa are Super Long Hair ponies and they came with dress up accessories, two bow brushes and were a KB Toys exclusive.
A picnic set was released with Port-o-bella & Lickety-Split at Kmart with fun picnic accessories.
A 4-pack of ponies was also released this year exclusive to Toys R Us. It came with 4 bow brushes.
Accessory sets include fun accessories to help with imaginative play. Razzaroo and Moondancer are re-releases from last year, except they are packaged differently and no longer come with charms. Some sets are store exclusives.
Twinkle Twirl Dance Studio
Twinkle Twirl
Twinkle Twirl's Dance Studio was also released with 2 bonus Sparkle ponies at Walmart. The bonus ponies could be any combination of Denim Blue, Desert Blossom, Peachy Pie or Rainbow Swirl.
4-packs of ponies were also released in 2004 at Costco. Each pack came with a Daywear set, Eveningwear Dressup set, Sparkle Pony and Jewel Pony.
Before new ponies were released to the general public, a few ponies were available through an Ebay seller called WorldinAdvance. These ponies boxes were numbered with foil stickers stating they were one of the "First 50" of their kind to be produced. These ponies are sometimes referred to as the "First 50". The ponies themselves are no different than the ponies released to the general public, however ponies still MIB with these stickers sell for higher than ponies that are not numbered. As opposed to ponies sold this way in 2003, these ponies did not come with a certificate.
Seven ponies from the FRIENDSHIP BALL collection will be the first available through auction in 2004. Beginning May 7th, fans can bid at the World in Advance store on eBay on four Sparkle ponies (50 DENIM BLUE, 50 DESERT BLOSSOM, 50 PEACHY PIE, 50 RAINBOW SWIRL) and three Jewel ponies (50 STAR DASHER, 50 SAPPHIRE SHORES, 50 WONDERMINT).
The ponies will come fully packaged, including a brush for pony's hair. In addition, each set of ponies will be labeled with a tamper-evident seal as one of the "First 50 Pieces", making them an instant collectible classic.
Coming soon - four new friends from the Rainbow/Glitter Collection (50 of each will be available).
Piccolo
Spring Parade
Golden Delicious
Cinnamon Breeze
Loop-de-la 
