Editing Horse (section)

===Ponies===
{{Main|Pony}}
[[Pony|Ponies]] are [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomically]] the same animals as horses. The distinction between a horse and pony is commonly drawn on the basis of height, especially for competition purposes. However, height alone is not dispositive; the difference between horses and ponies may also include aspects of [[phenotype]], including conformation and temperament.

The traditional standard for height of a horse or a pony at maturity is {{hands|14.2|lk=off}}. An animal {{hands|14.2|lk=off}} or over is usually considered to be a horse and one less than {{hands|14.2|lk=off}} a pony,{{r|EnsmingerHT|page=12}} but there are many exceptions to the traditional standard. In Australia, ponies are considered to be those under {{hands|14|lk=off}}.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Howlett, Lorna |author2=Philip Mathews |title=Ponies in Australia |publisher=Philip Mathews Publishers |location=Milson's Point, NSW |isbn=0-908001-13-4 |year=1979 |page=14}}</ref> For competition in the [[western riding|Western]] division of the [[United States Equestrian Federation]], the cutoff is {{hands|14.1|lk=off}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/RuleBook/rulebooks.aspx |title=2012 United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. Rule Book |publisher=United States Equestrian Federation |page=Rule WS 101 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415003731/http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/RuleBook/rulebooks.aspx |archive-date=2012-04-15 }}</ref> The [[International Federation for Equestrian Sports]], the world governing body for horse sport, uses [[metric system|metric]] measurements and defines a pony as being any horse measuring less than {{convert|148|cm|in|2}} at the withers without shoes, which is just over {{hands|14.2|lk=off}}, and {{convert|149|cm|in hands|2|lk=off}}, with shoes.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fei.org/sites/default/files/Annex%20XVII%20-%20Extracts%20Ponies.pdf | title=Annex XVII: Extracts from Rules for Pony Riders and Children, 9th edition | publisher=Fédération Equestre Internationale | year=2009 | access-date=2010-03-07 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911122158/http://www.fei.org/sites/default/files/Annex%20XVII%20-%20Extracts%20Ponies.pdf | archive-date=2012-09-11 }}</ref>

Height is not the sole criterion for distinguishing horses from ponies. [[Breed registry|Breed registries]] for horses that typically produce individuals both under and over {{hands|14.2|lk=off}} consider all animals of that breed to be horses regardless of their height.<ref>For example, the [[Missouri Fox Trotter]], or the [[Arabian horse]]. See [[#McBane|McBane]], pp. 192, 218</ref> Conversely, some pony breeds may have features in common with horses, and individual animals may occasionally mature at over {{hands|14.2|lk=off}}, but are still considered to be ponies.<ref>For example, the [[Welsh Pony]]. See [[#McBane|McBane]], pp. 52–63</ref>

Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails, and overall coat. They also have proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier {{glossary link|glossary=Glossary of equestrian terms|bone}}, shorter and thicker necks, and short heads with broad foreheads. They may have calmer temperaments than horses and also a high level of intelligence that may or may not be used to cooperate with human handlers.{{r|EnsmingerHT|pages=11-12}}{{Failed verification|date=April 2024|reason=Is not found on pages 11-12, and doesn't appear to be in this book.}} Small size, by itself, is not an exclusive determinant. For example, the [[Shetland pony]] which averages {{hands|10|lk=off}}, is considered a pony.{{r|EnsmingerHT|page=12}}Conversely, breeds such as the [[Falabella]] and other [[miniature horse]]s, which can be no taller than {{convert|30|in|cm hand|lk=off|order=flip}}, are classified by their [[breed registry|registries]] as very small horses, not ponies.<ref>[[#McBane|McBane]], p. 200</ref>