Pony Meets are
gatherings of My Little Pony collectors in one location, often involving the buying, selling, trading, and sharing of My Little
Ponies and related items. They are similar to conventions and swap meets, only are considerably smaller and not
usually for more than one day, though some stretch over a weekend.
Collectors
usually bring ponies to sell or trade, ones to share or show off to others, and
often times there are activities contests, games, raffles, live tutorials, and other activities. Sometimes the attendees bring food in a potluck style, the meet host provides the food, or the meet attendees bring their own. Pony meets are a
great way to interact with other collectors, make friends, and find elusive
ponies.
Pony meets can have any number of different themes, from simply a theme applied to a meet, to a meet held to help a member unload their collection into a new house. Some are more oriented for older collectors, and involve going out on the town for food and spirits. Conversely, some meets are held in a more fun, slumber party atmosphere, where collectors gather to watch movies or do other more quiet activities. Every meet has a different feel, and each tends to be quite unique from host to host.
I, MustBeJewel, have hosted
ten pony meets, beginning in the fall of 2002. The numbers have grown
considerably since then, where the attendance was only three people. Now more than thirty collectors attend the annual meets, and many of us have become great friends in the process. See the Maryland Pony Meet history for more information on how the meets have grown over time.
