The Strong National Museum of Play, the home of the National Toy Hall of Fame, has chosen three new toys to enter its halls: My Little Pony, Transformers, and Phase 10. 

“These are three very deserving toys that showcase the wide range of how people play,” says Christopher Bensch, Vice President for Collections and Chief Curator. “But for My Little Pony, in particular, this year is extra validating. The beloved toy was a finalist seven times before finally crossing the finish line!”

First introduced in the 1980s and relaunched in 2003, My Little Pony has been a staple in toy boxes for generations. These mini horses engage kids in many forms of play, including fantasy, grooming, and collecting. 

“The My Little Pony line has endured for decades because it combines several traditional forms of doll play with children’s fascination with horses,” says Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, Curator of Dolls and Toys. “The variety of figures promotes collecting as a pastime, too. The continued popularity of the line proves that this brand — pardon the pun — has legs.”

Black inventor and entrepreneur Ken Johnson created Phase 10 in 1982. The rummy-style card game is now one of the best-selling card games in the world, second only to Uno, another National Toy Hall of Fame inductee.

“Today, Mattel reportedly sells two million Phase 10 decks annually in 30 countries and in more than 20 languages,” says Mirek Stolee, Curator of Board Games and Puzzles. “Whether played in its original form or in one of its variations, Phase 10 has become an iconic game title that continues to encourage multigenerational social and competitive play.”

After a packed year celebrating the toy brand’s 40th anniversary, Transformers will also be immortalized in the National Toy Hall of Fame. With movies, TV shows, comic books, video games, and more to accompany it, Transformers’ popularity has spanned decades. 

“Transformers enjoy such popularity, in part, because Hasbro has used tried-and-true marketing methods — the multimedia venues for toy-related shows, books, and movies; related consumer products; and new variations and characters regularly added to the line — to keep the toy in front of American kids,” Bench says. “But the toys are also popular because they are so suited to the ways kids play. The toy line feeds kids’ imaginations and fantasy play.” 

These three toys were selected from a list of 12 finalists, including Apples to Apples, balloons, Choose Your Own Adventure gamebooks, Hess Toy Trucks, Pokémon Trading Card Game, remote-controlled vehicles, Sequence, stick horse, and trampoline. My Little Pony, Phase 10, and Transformers are now on view at The Strong National Museum of Play.