Why are Miniatures considered horses instead of ponies?

A pony is typically considered an equine under 58 inches tall(14.2 hands) when it reaches adult height, but a pony also has other distinctive characteristics other than just its small size.

Most pony breeds have thick, broad bodies and thick necks. They also have legs that are proportionately shorter for their body than a horse exhibits. Some pony breeds also have broad heads, especially through the forehead, along with larger eyes. Some ponies also have large hooves for their size.

On the other hand, miniature horses are even smaller than most pony breeds. Most registries won’t allow membership to a mini that’s taller than 34 inches when full grown. There are miniature horses, however, as tall as 38 inches. A miniature horse is also built differently than a pony. A mini is a scaled-down version of a horse, with a slimmer build than a pony, and longer legs for its size. The head is also in proportion to the body, as are the feet. Also, a miniature horse does not have the heavy bone often associated with pony breeds. In essence, a miniature horse is usually more refined than a typical pony. A mini is longer lived than most ponies, too. They have an average life span of 25-35 years.

By definition of the term pony, they are ponies. The term "Miniature Horse" refers to a specific breed. Yes, the breed has "horse" in the name but this doesn't mean the members of the registry are not ponies. Miniature horses are intentionally bred to have proportions that are as close to horse-like as possible. This is why they are called miniature horses. Breeders try to avoid the pot-bellied, stumpy-legged look that many small ponies have. Don't let the name of a breed deceive you. There are registered Quarter Horses out there that measure under 14.2 hands. By name, they are horses, but by height they are classified as ponies. The same can be said for all miniature horses. By name, they are horses but by height, they are still classified as ponies.

The person with the dwarfism answer is entirely wrong. Dwarfism is an illness and has nothing to do with this (although ponies with dwarfism tend to be extremely small in addition to being completely deformed).

Miniature HORSES are bred to look like little warmbloods. Beautiful arabian style things used only for show. Ponies are ponies. A lot of people call their Minishetlands "Miniature Horse" just because it sounds cooler than "Shetland Pony" but in terminology they're entirely wrong. A Miniature Horse is an entirely different definition =)

You should google image search the term. Miniature show horses are something by themselves to behold!

http://images.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&sou...

Wikipedia has a lot of really interesting articles on this which I read through a year or so ago.

Miniature Horses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_horse

Dwarfism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarfing

Miniature Horse section about Dwarfism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_horse#Dwarf...

Horse or Pony? Section of Wikipedia ;D http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_horse#Horse...

Falabella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falabella

on a similar time as miniature horses can come interior the homestead this is extremely unwise to do. Miniature horses are precisely what their call says: horses. so as that they want sparkling air and room to run like a number of different horses and ponies do. maximum seeing eyes horses do no longer stay interior the homestead and stay outdoors while they are off accountability. this is attainable to potty prepare them even nevertheless this is extremely complicated and while you're no longer experienced you probable would not have the capacity to do it. Miniatures is additionally very adverse and can wreck one's homestead. they like to chew on timber so any timber floor is a attainable purpose. they are additionally extremely curious so as that they could get into very virtually each thing. except you have a valid reason to place a mini in a house, you shouldn't do it. you're able to could bomb information your place and continuously be staring on the horse to ascertain it did no longer get into hardship. A mini could extremely get harm in a house. It would not value lots to feed the typical mini. It actual expenses extra to get its hooves trimmed and get its widely used vet tests. A mini would be everywhere from $3 hundred to $50,000 or extra. I strongly advise you to no longer positioned a mini on your place!

Because Minis are bred to look like miniature horses. If you look at a Miniature, it looks much more like a tiny horse rather than a pony. Hope this helps. :)

EDIT: Thank you Eli, I was completely misinformed on the whole bit.