Great points made in this thread already.
I also think it's worth adding that Ponies made of certain plastics should be stored with extra caution:
- G2 Hip Holly (notorious for having the plastic "break down" and go sticky very easily. Even tiny amounts of heat will cause this)
- G3 Divine Shines (same issue as above but not quite as dramatic. Should not be exposed to high heat or humidity though. Their colour can also fade in sunlight)
The translucent plastic that Hasbro has used in the past seems to be notorious for going bad much faster than usual. Hopefully they've sorted this out come the G4 Crystal Ponies line.