Horse vs Pony: What's the Difference?
A pony is a horse that stands no taller than 14.2 hands (147 cm) at the withers. Anything taller counts as a horse. The horse can be dangerous to people; the pony isn't dangerous to people.
Common questions
Is a pony a baby horse?
No. A pony is a small horse, fully grown, not a young one.
What is the difference between a horse and a pony?
Height, by definition: in most competitions a pony is any horse up to 14.2 hands (147 cm) at the withers when fully grown, and anything taller counts as a horse. Ponies also have thicker coats, shorter legs and heavier bones.
Quick answers
They differ on 1 of the 8 quick answers: dangerous.
| Question | Horse | Pony |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | No, herbivore | No, herbivore |
| Dangerous? differs | Can be | No |
| Domesticated? | Yes | Yes |
| Awake when? | Daytime | Daytime |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Do people eat it? | In places | In places |
At a glance
| Question | Horse | Pony |
|---|---|---|
| Found in | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Habitat differs | Grassland, Farmland | – |
| Size | Large | Large |
| Height differs | 142–163 cm at the shoulder (light riding horses) | Up to 14.2 hands (147 cm) at the withers |
| Weight differs | 380–550 kg (riding horses); 700–1,000 kg (draft) | – |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives | In herds | In herds |
| Lives for differs | 25–30 years | 25–35 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Horse
A one-toed, hoofed grazer, domesticated on the steppes of western Eurasia. Modern breeds spread across Eurasia from about 2000 BCE, and horses have been ridden and worked ever since.
Pony
A type of small horse, with a thicker coat, mane and tail, shorter legs, heavier bones and a wider body than larger horses. In most competitions a pony is any horse up to 14.2 hands (147 cm) at the withers when fully grown.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Commonly confused animals.