How to check a G2 My Little Pony
G2 ran from the late 1990s into the early 2000s and was sold mostly in Europe, which is why it turns up less often and why fewer collectors know exactly what to look for. The slim body, the small finely printed symbol and the accessories of the era are all part of the picture.
These are the five markers a G2 record is scored against, and what each one looks like in the hand.
The five markers on a G2 record
Cutie mark quality
G2 symbols are small and finely printed; copies show soft edges, wrong placement or a symbol that is the wrong size for the pose.
Eye printing
G2 eyes are large and glossy with a coloured iris and a distinct highlight; fakes lose the highlight or sit slightly crooked.
Hoof markings
G2 hooves carry a stamped Hasbro mark and date code, and many releases have a magnet fitted into a front hoof.
Body plastic quality
G2 bodies are slim with a semi-matte finish; fakes feel thin and flexible, especially along the legs.
Mane & tail texture
G2 hair is fine nylon with a soft sheen; bootleg fibre is coarser, stiffer and frizzes after washing.
What a failing G2 looks like
- A hoof with no stamped Hasbro mark or date code.
- A symbol that is soft-edged, badly placed, or noticeably the wrong size for the pose.
- Eyes with no highlight, or an iris printed outside the eye shape.
- A body that flexes or feels thin along the legs compared with a genuine G2.
- Hair that is stiff, glossy or frizzy straight out of a wash.
Questions collectors ask
Why are G2 ponies less well documented than G1?
G2 was sold mainly in Europe and never had the reach of G1 or G4, so fewer examples have been photographed and compared side by side. That makes a documented record more useful rather than less: it gives you a second figure to check the symbol, the stamp and the hair against.
What is the magnet in a G2 hoof?
Many G2 releases have a magnet fitted into a front hoof as part of the era's accessory play. The recess for it is moulded into the leg, so it is part of what a genuine figure looks like — worth photographing along with the stamp.
My G2 has no visible stamp. Is it a fake?
Not automatically. G2 stamps are small and shallow, and playwear can smooth them away. Photograph the underside of each hoof in daylight and compare with other figures of the same pose before deciding.
Check your own figure against the database
A PonyProof account is free, and every record shows the same checklist scored for a figure someone has already examined.
More guides
How to tell if a My Little Pony is fake
The five checks collectors run on any figure, the warning signs that point to a copy or a repair, and how to keep a doubtful pony out of your collection.
Read the guideHow to check a G1 My Little Pony
Figures from the 1980s and early 1990s are the most repaired in the hobby, so a G1 record checks originality as carefully as it checks identity.
Read the guideHow to check a G3 My Little Pony
Chunky moulds, big multi-colour symbols and wide, stable legs. G3 copies still circulate loose and in sets, and the printed symbol is usually where they give themselves away.
Read the guideHow to check a G4 My Little Pony
G4 is the most widely copied generation and the copies are close. These markers are small on purpose — they are the details a bootleg mould and printer tend to lose.
Read the guideHow to check a G5 My Little Pony
The current generation: new moulds, large glossy eyes and figures that arrive mostly in sets. Most G5 copies are cheap loose figures — and the same five markers catch them.
Read the guide
