The Big Brothers were introduced in Year 5, between 1986 and 1987, and were the first male My Little Ponies. The Big Brother ponies are larger than other ponies, and have shaggy hooves like Clydesdale horses. They are all earth ponies. Each Big Brother pony has two colors in his mane and one in his tail, like early unicorn ponies had. A second set of Big Brother Ponies was released in Year 6. Each pony came with a hat, a bandana, a frog brush or grasshopper comb, and a ribbon.
Tex is a yellow adult male earth pony with dark blue eyes. His hair is dark pink with a dark blue strip. His symbol is two mint-green saguaro cacti and two pink bushes. He is in the Tex Pose. Tex was later re-released in the second set of Big Brother ponies, in Year 6. Tex came with a dark pink grasshopper comb, a ribbon, a dark blue bandana, and a mint green cowboy hat printed with a pink sheriff's-star symbol marked "P."
Salty is a dark blue adult earth pony with yellow eyes. His hair is lavender with a dark pink strip. His symbol is a pink and white ship and three white waves. He is in the Tex Pose. Salty was later re-released in the second set of Big Brother ponies, in Year 6. Salty came with a yellow frog brush, a ribbon, a green bandana, and a white sailor hat marked "S.S. Pony" in green.
Steamer is a purplish-pink adult male earth pony with yellow eyes. His hair is light pink with a dark green strip. His symbol is a yellow and blue train. He is in the Steamer Pose. Steamer was later re-released in the second set of Big Brother ponies, in Year 6. Steamer came with a mint green frog brush, a ribbon, a yellow bandana, and a purple conductor's hat marked "Pony R.R." in yellow.
4-Speed is an ash-blue adult male earth pony with dark pink eyes. His hair is dark blue with a light pink strip. His symbol is a pink and blue trash truck. He is in the Quarterback Pose. 4-Speed came with a purple frog brush, a ribbon, a purple bandana, and a yellow construction hat printed with a blue heart symbol.
Slugger is a pink adult earth pony with dark blue eyes. His hair is white with a dark pink strip. His symbol is a white baseball cap, and aqua glove, and a white baseball. He is in the Steamer Pose. Slugger came with an aqua grasshopper comb, a ribbon, an aqua bandana, and an aqua baseball cap printed with the symbol of a white baseball marked "MLP."
Quarterback is a dark blue adult earth pony with pink eyes. His hair is blue with a white strip. His symbol is a pink football with white laces. He is in the Quarterback Pose. Quarterback came with a pink grasshopper comb, a ribbon, a pink bandana, and a pale pink football helmet with a dark pink strap and symbol.