Wells Fargo Plush Ponies

Wells Fargo Bank has created these unique plush toys based on actual horses used by their express agents. Wells Fargo recognized the importance of taking good care of their horses from the beginning, as described in a 1915 internal publication, Wells Fargo Messenger:
“It is by no means an exaggeration to say that our horses are the pride of Wells Fargo service . . . The horses are stalwart and well-groomed; the harness spick and span . . . our most faithful employee and friend . . . (is) our best advertisement.”
To celebrate the contributions of its faithful steeds, Wells Fargo produced these plush pony toys – each for a limited time only.
Here are their stories:

	Billy Plush Pony appearance: Appaloosa; produced summer 2003. “It is not easy to discern the fact from the general appearance of the accompanying photograph, but this is ‘Wells Fargo & Company’s Switch Engine.’ At least that is what all of the express boys in St. Paul, Minn., call this truck and faithful horse ‘Billy,’ as he performs his important duty of hauling our freight between the depot shed and the warehouse, fully a block apart. As may be supposed, ‘Billy’ represents the ‘engine,’ while Bob Norris, one of our local men, is the ‘engineer’.” – Wells Fargo Messenger, February 1914
	King Plush Pony appearance: black; produced summer 2003. King was acquired in November 1896 for $235, and served Wells Fargo in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Los Angeles.
	Dandy Plush Pony appearance: tan; produced spring 2004. Dandy, a bay-colored horse, joined the Wells Fargo office in Auburn, California in October 1895. Wells Fargo paid $18 to get this beautiful horse.
	Buck Plush Pony appearance: Palomino; produced for holidays 2004. Cream-colored Buck was acquired by Wells Fargo in 1900 for $85 and served in Ardmore, Oklahoma Territory.
	Grace Plush Pony appearance: white; produced for holidays 2004. Grace was serving Wells Fargo in Los Angeles in 1916 alongside her workmate, Ben. Grace and Ben delivered for Wells Fargo during the transition from horse-drawn wagons to motor cars.
	Trixie Plush Pony appearance: brown Paint horse; produced for holidays 2005. Trixie was a Paint breed horse whose job was pulling the Wells Fargo wagon in her hometown of Ardmore, Oklahoma Territory. She was acquired by Wells Fargo in 1918 for $150.
	Prince Plush Pony appearance: gray; produced for holidays 2006. In 1901, a handsome horse named Prince arrived at Wells Fargo’s stable in Ardmore, Oklahoma Territory. Prince had cost the princely sum of $125 and always looked smart pulling the Wells Fargo express wagon that delivered valuable packages around downtown Ardmore.
	Maggie Plush Pony appearance: chestnut; produced for holidays 2007. In 1909, a beautiful mare named Maggie represented Wells Fargo in the first annual San Francisco Work Horse Parade. Maggie had pulled Wells Fargo wagons for 21 years and she was 25 at the time. This wasn’t young for a horse, so she was entered into the parade’s “old horse” class, along with another Wells Fargo horse, Menlo.