There is much public interest concerning the horse vs. pony distinction. According to sources, a pony is a small horse that can measure up to 14.2 hands high. Horses measure 14.3 hands and above. A "hand" refers to the breadth (and not the length) of a human hand which is four inches. Ponies are usually stockier than horses. With shorter legs, heftier bones, thicker necks, shorter heads, and wider bodies, they have thicker manes, coats, and tails. They are also more resistant to extreme weather conditions. They are also known to be smarter and more stubborn, at times, than horses. Ponies are also stronger than horses. The largest draft horse breed, the Shire, can pull its own weight, while a Shetland Pony can pull twice its weight. Further, a pony is much more resilient than a horse in its early years. A pony can start working during its first months of life, while a foal, with its long and fragile legs, cannot work until later on.

The horse vs. pony size distinction, however, is not always valid. Horse breeds like the American Miniature Horses, Caspians, Falabellas, and others actually fall into the pony range because of their small size. But it is not their size that decides whether they are ponies or horses. Thus, some horses are considered horses because of breeding details, and not size.

The pony actually developed from original wild horse prototypes that developed a small size because they lived outside livable habitat for horses. This is why they are called small horses today. Regardless of the horse vs. pony distinction, both contain breeds that are wonderful for families.

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