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A pony is a type of small horse, usually under a specific height at full maturity. Ponies often have thicker coats, manes and tails, compared to larger horses, and proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier , thicker necks and shorter heads. In modern use, breed registries and may define a pony as measuring at the withers below a certain height; height limits varying from about to . Some distinguish between horse or pony based on its horse breed or phenotype, regardless of its height. The word pony derives from the old French poulenet, a diminutive of poulain meaning foal, a young, immature horse. A full-sized horse may sometimes be called a pony as a term of endearment.
Domesticated ponies of all breeds originally developed mainly from the need for a working animal that could fulfill specific local draft and transportation needs while surviving in harsh environments. The usefulness of the pony was noted by farmers who observed that a pony could outperform a draft horse on small farms.
By the 20th century, many pony breeds had Arabian horse and other blood added to make a more refined pony suitable for riding.
Pony breeds have developed all over the world, particularly in cold and harsh climates where hardy, sturdy were needed. They are remarkably strong for their size. Breeds such as the Connemara pony are recognized for their ability to carry a full-sized adult rider. Pound for pound, ponies can pull and carry more weight than a horse. Draft-type ponies are able to pull loads significantly greater than their own weight, with larger ponies capable of pulling loads comparable to those pulled by full-sized , and even very small ponies are able to pull as much as 450 percent of their own weight.
Nearly all pony breeds are very hardy, that share the ability to thrive on a more limited diet than that of a regular-sized horse, requiring half the hay for their weight as a horse, and often not needing grain at all. However, for the same reason, they are also more vulnerable to laminitis and Cushing's syndrome. They may also have problems with hyperlipidemia.
Ponies are generally considered intelligent and friendly, though sometimes they also are described as stubborn or cunning. The differences of opinion often result from an individual pony's degree of proper training. Ponies horse training by inexperienced individuals, or only ridden by beginners, can turn out to be spoiled because their riders typically lack the experience base to correct bad habits. Properly trained ponies are appropriate mounts for children who are learning to ride. Larger ponies can be ridden by adults, as ponies are usually strong for their size.
For showing purposes, ponies are often grouped into small, medium, and large sizes. Small ponies are and under, medium ponies are over 12.2 but no taller than , and large ponies are over but no taller than .
The smallest equines are called by many of their breeders and breed organizations, rather than ponies, even though they stand smaller than small ponies, usually no taller than at the withers. There are also miniature pony breeds.
Many horse breeds have some pony characteristics, such as small size, a heavy coat, a thick mane or heavy bone, but are considered to be horses. In cases such as these, there can be considerable debate over whether to call certain breeds "horses" or "ponies." However, individual breed registry usually are the arbiters of such debates, weighing the relative horse and pony characteristics of a breed. In some breeds, such as the Welsh pony, the horse-versus-pony controversy is resolved by creating separate divisions for consistently horse-sized animals, such as the Welsh pony.
Some horses may be pony height due to environment more than genetics. For example, the Chincoteague pony, a feral horse that lives on Assateague Island off the coasts of Maryland and Virginia, often matures to the height of an average small horse when raised from a foal under domesticated conditions.
Conversely, the term "pony" is occasionally used to describe horses of normal height. Horses used for polo are often called "polo pony" regardless of height, even though they are often of Thoroughbred breeding and often well over . American Indigenous tribes also have the tradition of referring to their horses as "ponies", when speaking in English, even though many of the Mustang horses they used in the 19th century were close to or over , and most horses owned and bred by Native peoples today are of full horse height. Non-racing horses at racetracks that are used to lead the racehorses, ponying them, are called "pony horses".
The term "pony" is also sometimes used to describe a full-sized horse in a humorous or affectionate sense.
The Pony Club uses the term "pony" for any mount ridden by a member, regardless of its breed or size. Pony Club members are allowed to compete with full-size horses and are not limited to pony-sized mounts.
Similar or similarly named horses
Some horse breeds are not defined as ponies, even when they have some animals that measure under . This is usually due to body build, traditional uses and overall physiology. Breeds that are considered horses regardless of height include the Arabian horse, American Quarter Horse and the Morgan horse, all of which have individual members both over and under .
See also
Further reading
(1996). 9780062701398, HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062701398
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