My Little Pony, Transformers inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame, alongside Phase 10

My Little Pony has finally joined the winner’s circle.

After years of participation, the pastel-colored ponies were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Tuesday, alongside Transformers figures and the Phase 10 card game.

The winners rose to the top thanks to the vote of a panel of experts and the public among the 12 finalists. This year’s board included: Apples to Apples board game, balloons, Choose Your Own Adventure game books, Hess toy trucks, Pokémon trading card game, remote control vehicles, Sequence, the horse stick and trampoline.

“These are three very worthy toys that showcase the wide range of ways to play,” Christopher Bensch, vice president of collections and chief curator, said in a statement. “But for My Little Pony in particular, this year is extra validation. The beloved toy was a finalist seven times before finally crossing the finish line!”

Hasbro’s mini horses, recognizable by different “cutie marks” on their hips, were introduced in the 1980s and reintroduced in 2003, outselling even Barbie for several years.

The collectibles have been recognized for encouraging fantasy and storytelling – the kind of creative play the Hall of Fame demands of inductees – as well as for their popularity over time.

“The My Little Pony line has endured for decades because it combines several traditional forms of doll play with children’s fascination with horses,” said Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, curator of dolls and toys. “The variety of figurines also makes collecting a hobby.”

Transformers

Transformers first appeared in the 1980s, when Hasbro purchased the rights to several existing Japanese toy lines featuring transforming robots. They were first released with a cartoon and have since evolved into a series of live-action films. Social media sites allow debates on the essential characters, as well as demonstrations of the sometimes complex process of manipulating them, from robot to vehicle or in any other alternative form.

The new regular Transformers characters keep collectors coming back, Bensch said, “but the toys are also popular because they are very tailored to the way children play. The toy line fuels imagination and fantasy play children.”

Phase 10

Also inducted was Phase 10, introduced by inventor and entrepreneur Ken Johnson in 1982. Today, Mattel sells 2 million card games per year in 30 countries and more than 20 languages. This makes it one of the best-selling card games in the world, according to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, where the Toy Hall of Fame is located.

In the style of rummy, the game challenges players to collect groups of cards to complete 10 phases in sequential order before their opponents.

“Whether played in its original form or one of its variations, Phase 10 has become an iconic gaming title that continues to encourage multi-generational social and competitive gaming,” said Mirek Stolee, curator of games at society and museum puzzles.

Anyone can nominate a toy for the Hall of Fame. Museum staff narrows the number of finalists to 12 each year. Fans can vote online for their favorites and their results are tallied alongside ballots from a national advisory committee made up of historians, educators and other industry experts.