If you were starting from the beginning...

[Leave a Whisper]

I'd start with G1 of course:
Year: Idk, what year did the TEs and SSs come out again?
Color: Green
Set: Twinkle Eyes.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I probably wouldn’t start!  It’s not a cheap hobby, anymore!  Ponies for a quarter, anyone?

I remember ponies for a DIME!!!!  D: 

I agree, I don't think I would have started collecting if all my ponies had disappeared.  Mom was picky about me keeping them and so I've always had a herd and added to it... but if I had ZERO?   I don't think I'd start collecting MLP with prices the way they are now.

[Safflower]

Well, I would of course start with G1... I only buy from local sellers except for a few eBay purchases. I couldnt rebuild my collection exactly the same way if I only bought what local sellers had, and even then I don't really care what I get as long as I don't have it If I were to buy online I gues I would...

1. Pick out favorites and buy those first
2. Buy their set mates so they aren't lonely
3. Start with year one and move forward
4. Pick sets and buy!

Rebuilding my collection this way would probably take a lot longer... I would wait and wait and wait until a good deal, lol

[TheBeatlesPkmnFan42]

Haha, I would definitely not be able to not keep buying them. Ponies are my main SpIn, I can't be without them because they mean the world to me!

[jrr74]

If starting from the beginning, I would stick with my missing g1 ponies I had as a child, and then a few others that caught my eyes, but nothing over the top in price.

[glitterball]

For me, it would be G1. 

Firstly, picking super-favourites from my childhood herd (looking at you, Honeycomb + Gypsy + Fizzy + Galaxy!)

then ones that I always liked but never managed to get during UK childhood - yo, Glory and German Baby Honeycomb!

Then ones that are "new" to me (never knew existed until joining the Arena) and catch my eye - Night Glider, TAF Buttons, Merriweather.

I am not too fussed about completing sets or getting pristine ponies, as I can pass the fun on to my kid without being too precious about how she handles them (within reason - no scissors or pens allowed near them!!) 

I don't need a massive herd, nor do I desire to get every G1 character ever made, just the ones that I actually like the best 
for example, I saw SS Scrumptious on ebay and just loved the colour combo - had to be bought! 

[Bekuno]

I think if I were to restart I'd have focused completely on G1 and abandoned most of my G4 collection, save a few favorites.

[Noasar]

I’d probably do it the same and just collect the sets/ponies I like in the ultimate minty condition I can find.

[Shaiyeh]

Oh, dear where would I... I have a strong suspicion that even if I aimed to start out with like, one set at a time (which I think would be my choice here), I'd get sidetracked and do what I did when I started collecting anyway: buy all the ponies!

[Marlin]

I'm just gonna simply say generation. And that'd be G1, since I'm only interested in them.

[cookifaa]

Oh gosh, I don't know!

I actually only collect G1 and G3, although i do have a lot of childhood G2 ponies.

If i was to completely start over I would still collect both generations but I think I would start by year, so G1 would be collected first

[dragonfly]

I’ve always been so random in my collecting habits ... just who strikes my fancy. Tbh I can’t think of myself doing it another way or trying to apply a method to my madness ... but I’ve always admired those who do!

[Glitter Yolk]

Hmmm. I don't have much of a theme, just ponies I like, so really whatever I could come across first from my want list. I will say I wish I had gotten into collecting sooner! Maybe start with G3s first, since they're more common and I only want about three of them for myself!

[Beldarna]

I would probably start in the same way.
1 Trying to get those I never got as a child.
2. Getting those who were in the movies
2. Getting those I think are pretty.