Ponies are small horses, with shorter legs, thicker manes and thicker neck. They also have a shorter head, small ears and large eyes. They are intelligent and friendly animals but there are also some exceptions where they can be stubborn and cunning.

They are mostly trained as mounts for children. Larger ponies can also be ridden by adults because they are stronger, for their size. Some breeds are also used for chariots and in some countries they use them as working animals.

It is also worth mentioning that in proportion to their size, ponnies can carry more weight than horses.