How to check a G5 My Little Pony
G5 is the current generation, with new moulds and figures that mostly arrive in sets and multi-packs. Because the line is recent, most copies are cheap loose figures rather than convincing forgeries, but the checks are the same ones collectors use everywhere.
A G5 record is scored against these five markers, and what each one looks like in the hand.
The five markers on a G5 record
Cutie mark quality
G5 cutie marks are tampo-printed, sharp and centred; fakes are smudged, off-centre or the wrong scale for the pose.
Eye printing
G5 eyes are large and glossy with layered printing and a reflective highlight; fakes often miss the highlight.
Hoof markings
G5 hooves carry a moulded Hasbro logo, country code and date; fakes usually lack the logo or the code.
Body plastic quality
G5 plastic is matte and consistent; fakes show gloss patches, sink marks and mould lines.
Mane & tail texture
G5 hair is fine nylon, with tinsel on some releases; copies use stiff fibre that frays.
What a failing G5 looks like
- A hoof with no moulded Hasbro logo, country code or date.
- A cutie mark that is smudged, off-centre, or out of scale for the pose.
- Eyes without the reflective highlight, or printing that spills past the eye shape.
- Gloss patches, sink marks or mould lines on a body that should be uniformly matte.
- Hair that frays or feels stiff next to a figure from the same set.
- A set where one figure is clearly lighter or more cheaply printed than its set-mates.
Questions collectors ask
Are fake G5 ponies a problem yet?
Less than for G4, because the line is recent and most copies are cheap loose figures rather than convincing forgeries. Even so, the same five markers settle it, and the hoof stamp is the quickest of them.
How do I check a figure that came in a multi-pack?
Compare it with its set-mates side by side. Genuine figures from one set match in plastic finish, print quality and hair; the one that stands out — lighter, softer, glossier — is the one worth checking closely.
What is the fastest single check on a G5?
The hoof. A moulded Hasbro logo with a country code and date is difficult for a copy to reproduce cleanly, so it sorts a loose figure faster than anything else.
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 G2 My Little Pony
G2 was sold mainly in Europe, so fewer examples have been photographed and compared. The slim mould and the small symbol are what a record is measured against.
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 guide
