Why do you Collect My Little Pony?

[Doedeardarling]

Well, my answer is a bit complicated and unromantic, but I had this conversation with myself when I started collecting as well, and I needed to have a rational reason why before I started blowing money on colorful plastic horses. The reason is to not drown into stuff. You see, I have this need to hoard pretty things, it's some sort of nesting I think, but I can keep it in check and pass buying everything else as long as I have something to focus on. Ponies are a good thing to collect, there's near endless variations with different generations and nirvanas and accessories and MOCs and aging and customs and so on, also they are relatively cheap and don't take up much space. They also give me something to do with cleaning and restoring. The truth is however, as much as I do love my ponies, I could be collecting something completely different and be just as happy, I just have ended up with ponies and I am happy I have. This is a great community to be part of after all.

[LordBlumiere]

I only picked the last option because all of the above fit! They do de-stress me, I adore the collecting community, I love hunting for them and they do bring back nostalgia from my childhood. My Little Pony is so many things to me--it was the first toy I ever really loved, the first thing I looked up on the internet, and the first thing I turn to when I'm upset. I can't imagine what my life would be like without MLP, and thus I collect it--and I always will.

[Tap Dancer]

I voted for "nostalgia" and because "they make me happy." Both are true!

[LadyPinwheel]

It's a passion I have since I was a child. Already as a kid I collected them, although back then I didn't call it like that. But they have been with me all this time. Some times in a box, some times out on the shelves. And now, I continue with that passion for ponies. They make me happy. ^^

[Kamisha]

I just love having pretty things around me And I love collecting ^__^

[Sarah-Bee]

I ticked 'nostalgia' and 'happy' because they're the top 2 but really they all apply

[hathorcat]

Nostalgia and happy for me as well. But as a general hobby its just something I really enjoy - awesome community, cute collection - all a win win!

[Elisto]

I voted Nostalgia and They make me happy, although the second one is really a tie with Thrill of the hunt. I still get the majority of my ponies from second hand stores, so it really is a challenge, although that's slowed down considerably this past year.

[SkyCakes]

I put they bring back happy memories. I have many of those playing with them as a child. I also put because of the thrill of the hunt. Tracking down ponies makes me excited to collect more. I love finding new ponies.

[Rhubarbpie]

For me, its that they make me feel happy and de-stress me. I can have the most stressful day at work, the kinda day where you regret breathing first thing in the morning when you wake up, then I get home, I look at my collection, maybe stroke a pony or 5 and start to smile again  and if there's been a pony delivery, well, I am smiling before I get through the door 

[Bekuno]

They're very therapeutic and they make me happy.

People who've known me since I was little girl must think its so strange for me to be loving my little pony this much, as I was very much a tomboy and rejected all things pink as a child!
I feel like I'm getting what I missed by doing that now as a teen going on young adult.

[achab1984]

Sometimes I wonder why I collect ponies and have so many as I do right now. I am a person that does not like to have a lot of things anymore. There are times when I look at my collection and feel like I am a hoarder. But if I did not have my collection I would not have anything to enjoy ( as far as material things) that is.

I like to see what all of you have to say about ponies. I also find them to be therapeutic for me at times. I know when I was sick with shingles they gave me a way to forget about my pain for just a little bit. I also collect for the community that is on this site. I have joined other sites but just did not feel at home like I do on here. I am not sure why but I don't ask or try to find out. You know when you on a site to much when your daughter says " You must really like that site mom!"    

[Clarabel Sapphire]

Seeing the way ponies make Clare happy makes me happy too, and makes me want to be involved


Paul

PS: OK they are cute as well

Aw, that's lovely hunny - love you lots! 

I voted for 'nostalgia' and 'therapy', but as others have said, all four apply. 

This is my 30th year of owning My Little Pony. 

My childhood collection started in May 1984 with Bow Tie and finished with Locket on my 13th birthday in June 1988. I had 42 in the end and as they were my all-time favourite toys, I could not bear to part with any of them.

For me, My Little Pony equals happiness, like memories of Mum and I playing with them and us both making up little scenarios together and pony gifts from my late grandparents and aunt.  When I had my first experience of clinical depression in late 2001, all I wanted to do was escape from reality. My ponies gave me four years of joy as a child and I was looking for ways to recapture this. I started to think about the ponies I missed out on owning and started looking them up on the internet to cheer myself up.

Ponies were being advertised for sale on something called eBay and I found Blue Belle, the one pony that had eluded me as a child. I had to have her in my collection! This was a way to start collecting all the ponies I dreamed of owning. All too often, sets would be discontinued by the time I had saved up enough pocket money or they could be bought by family as Christmas and birthday presents.

I'm so glad to have joined the Arena and found so many like-minded people.  I've learnt so much about collecting as a hobby, had some great trades and discovered lots of ponies I knew nothing of that are now part of my herd, including G3s and G4s. 

[Katika]

I selected "Because they make me happy" because, to me at least, that sums up all of the reasons that you gave as options.  I collect for the nostalgia - the first time I found G3s in stores it immediately brought back childhood memories.  I scooped up a Sparkleworks II and that same night called my mom to see if she knew where the remaining ponies from my childhood were.  I collect for therapy - brushing manes, reorganizing shelves, even gazing longingly through ebay and the sales forum (typically) relax me.  I collect for the thrill of the hunt - crossing off ponies on my checklist and noting when I *finally* complete a set is super exciting for me!  And even though I have terrible, horrible luck at antique/thrift stores and the like, when I manage to find even a manky Peachy second hand it seriously makes my day.  I collect for the community - in my experience, Pony people are some of the best I've known.  I've never seen a more supportive and genuinely helpful group of individuals in my life, and it's very comforting knowing that I get to be a part of this community

All of that together makes me happy   Several people have asked me along the way if I'll ever stop collecting or sell my collection, and the answer truly is when ponies quit making me smile and feel good, that's when it's time to let my herd move on.  There have been times when I've put expanding my collection on hold due to finances or more immediate real-life concerns, but what it boils down to is that I can't not feel warm when I sit down in my pony room

[reanna-mator]

Kind of a bit of everything. Friendship is Magic and the brony community got me into all of MLP as a whole, and I thought I'd only have a small collection, but then it kind of... got out of hand.

I think the reasons for that is that this community is really fun, and I have a personality that gets easily addicted to things.