Picture a New Zealand storyteller who swapped stilettos for gumboots to spin enchanting tales of horses and adventure—meet Stacy Gregg! A former fashion journalist turned bestselling children’s author, Gregg has captivated young readers worldwide with her thrilling pony stories, blending heart, history, and hooves in a way that feels like a gallop through a dream.
The Making of Stacy Gregg
Born in Melbourne in 1968 to New Zealand parents, Stacy Gregg (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Maru) grew up in Ngāruawāhia, a culturally rich town that shaped her storytelling. As a child, she was a bookworm and pony-club enthusiast, idolizing equestrian legends like Mark Todd and devouring pony books by Ruby Ferguson. Her love for writing bloomed early, leading her to journalism, where she covered New Zealand Fashion Week with wit and flair. But her heart stayed with horses, and in 2007, HarperCollins published her first novel, Mystic and the Midnight Ride, launching her into children’s literature.
Stacy Gregg’s Unforgettable Stories
Gregg’s Pony Club Secrets series, starting with Mystic and the Midnight Ride, follows the adventures of young riders at the fictional Chevalier Point Pony Club. With over 1.5 million copies sold globally, the series inspired the TV show Mystic, airing on CBBC and TVNZ2. Her standalone novel The Princess and the Foal (2013), based on Princess Haya of Jordan’s childhood, blends historical depth with equine magic, earning the Children’s Choice Junior Fiction Award. Nine Girls (2024), a departure from horses, explores Gregg’s Māori heritage and 1980s Ngāruawāhia, winning the prestigious Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award. Her latest, The Last Journey (2025), narrated by a cat named Pusskin, showcases her versatility. Gregg’s style weaves vivid settings, strong female leads, and themes of courage and identity, often drawing from real-life stories and her global research in places like Jordan and Iceland.
Whether it’s the windswept Caribbean in The Island of Lost Horses or wartime Berlin in Prince of Ponies, Gregg’s novels pulse with adventure and emotional depth. Her ability to craft dual narratives—merging past and present—sets her apart, making her stories resonate with readers aged 10 to 13 and beyond. Her picture books, like the Mini Whinny series, charm younger audiences with playful pony antics.
Why Stacy Gregg Matters
Stacy Gregg’s impact transcends her 36 novels and nearly 3 million books sold. As HarperCollins New Zealand’s third bestselling children’s author—behind only Dr. Seuss and David Walliams—she’s a literary force. Her school tours across New Zealand, Beirut, and London inspire young readers, while her Māori heritage in Nine Girls enriches cultural narratives. By blending fact and fiction, Gregg empowers girls to dream big, proving that stories about horses can gallop into hearts worldwide. Her awards, including three consecutive Children’s Choice Junior Fiction honors, cement her legacy as a storyteller who makes reading an adventure.
- Born: July 23, 1968, Melbourne, Australia
- Key Works: Pony Club Secrets, The Princess and the Foal, Nine Girls
- Awards: Margaret Mahy Book of the Year (2024), three-time Children’s Choice Junior Fiction winner
Snag Nine Girls or dive into the Pony Club Secrets series to gallop through Stacy Gregg’s thrilling world of adventure and heart!