How do you keep track of your ponies?

[tulagirl]

I did something really simple.  I made lists on the computer in Microsoft word for each generation. I have a quick reference list that is every pony in alpha order and then I make a separate list organized by color.  On that list I have the description of symbols for G1 ponies and cutie marks for G3 ponies.  Since I only collect G3 and G1, I have 4 lists. 2 for each generation.  Sometimes I just want to know if I have a pony and the quick reference is the easiest way to find it. If I can't remember a pony name by looking at the pony, I just look it up by color. I also have my accessories listed (need to continue working on this list).  I have done this for all of my ponies and all of my Lalaloopsy dolls so I can remember what came with what.  My next list is combs that I have and playsets.  I print everything out twice a year and keep it in a binder.  When I get a new pony, the first thing I do is add it to the computer lists and then write it on my paper copy until I reprint sometime later.  This helps me know exactly how many ponies I have and if I own what they came with or not.

[ElusiveLily]

I haven't gone through my collection and listed each individual pony by name. The thought of doing that scares me. But I know at some point I'll have to do it.

However, I do keep a small sheet of paper on hand that lists the total number of ponies I have, and then it's broken down by generation, and lists what types of ponies I have in those generations.

For example:

G1:

27 Brushables
2 Plush

Every time I get something new, I add it to the total, and then I place it in the appropriate generation and category.

[hyenacub]

A checklist I printed out from Dream Valley.  : D

[DazzleKitty]

I have realized that I truly need some help keeping track of my collection.

I have discovered recently that I have duplicates that I had no idea I owned.

There is a beautiful G2 I was looking at on eBay. For those of you who are curious, her name is Teddy. I thought she was gorgeous but was selling for about $27 and I couldn't bring myself to pay that price. I got some ponies out of storage the other night and didn't realize I ALREADY own her.....MOC no less.

I NEED to get some kind of inventory going here!

[reanna-mator]

I'm a fan of Ponydex. It works well enough for my collection which is nearing 500 ponies, and it's nice to use the "for sale" tag to identify doubles!

[tiktok]

I have hardly any ponies, so I keep track of them in my head, but I keep inventory lists of other things - my film collection is in an alphabetical list on my iPad, since I pretty much have that with me if I am in a place where I might buy myself new DVDs, and I keep track of my dragons for dragcave (online game) on a Google Docs spreadsheet.

 When I was trying to decide what G4 ponies I wanted to acquire next, I went through everything on the G4 checklist on My Little Pony News and made a prioritized list in my text editor. Since it was short, I didn't bother saving it.

[Sunset]

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I've started on a database with Microsoft Office and I also am checking out Ponydex.  Cataloguing everything is going to take some time.