Difference between Pony and Horse?

Horses and ponies are more similar than they are different. The one thing ponies are not, and that many people get wrong, is that they are not baby horses.

Ponies and horses are the same species (Equus caballus) and come from the same family tree. However, ponies remain small throughout their lives and mature more quickly than horses. Foals are tiny and quickly reach the size of their parents. While horses grow more slowly, with some not reaching their adult size until they are six or seven years old.

Size: pony vs horse

The most obvious difference between a horse and a pony is size. In most cases, a pony is less than 1.45 meters tall. Some horses are more pony-like in behavior and physiology, and others are more horse-like.

In fairness to riders and these mounts, these size standards help prevent ponies and small horses from competing against larger animals, whose size could give them an advantage in competitions. Finally, for safety reasons, you should avoid having children on ponies among larger horses in the same arena.

Horses the size of a pony

Some breeds that are under the 145 cm standard are considered horses. These are, for example, the miniature horse and the Icelandic horse. These two breeds are the size of ponies but are called horses. In the case of the miniature horse, most pedigrees include small ponies, such as Shetlands, and true horse breeds are unlikely to be found.

Others, like the Welsh Pony, will have individuals exceeding the pony size standards, but may still be considered ponies. Some horse breeds have pony-sized individuals, such as the Morgan Horse, American Quarter Horse, and many gaited breeds such as the Paso Fino and Kentucky Mountain Horse.

Difference between pony and horse

Some differences between horses and ponies aren't as easy to spot as size. Horses and ponies often have very different temperaments. Ponies tend to be more stoic and intelligent than larger horses. They can be quite tricky, which is why it is sometimes easier to find a quiet horse for a child than a reliable pony. Ponies are very adept at avoiding work and bearing the consequences. Horses can be calmer, and often the larger the breed, the more docile they are. Much depends on why the horse breed was developed.

Ponies are extremely strong for their size. They can pull or carry heavy loads with more force than a horse, relative to their size. They are more resistant than horses and can withstand greater temperature variations. Their coat tends to thicken in the winter, which often doesn't shed until the hottest days of summer. They begin to grow back their thick coat as soon as the days start to get shorter. Ponies have thicker manes and tails. Their hooves tend to be more durable. They have heavier bones and shorter legs in proportion to their bodies than horses.

Food for the pony or horse

Ponies can feed in a pasture more easily than horses. In fact, it is very easy to overfeed a pony, making them more prone to drowsiness and laminitis than horses. A pony's diet is slightly different from that of horses. It is rare for a pony to be difficult to feed, and this may be a sign of a health problem.

Unequal life expectancy

Ponies also tend to live longer than horses. It is not uncommon for ponies to live more than thirty years, and many world record holders for oldest equines are ponies.