How to Select a Pony of America

Know that the Pony of the Americas breed was created in 1954 by breeding an Appaloosa/Arabian mare to a Shetland Pony stallion.

Understand that POAs are intended to be ridden and shown by children. Adults may show them in halter, driving and limited riding classes.

Decide what you want your POA to do. They excel in a variety of disciplines: halter, showmanship, pleasure, hunters, driving, gaming, endurance, trail, etc.

Decide how much training you can do yourself (if any) and look at ponies with appropriate training histories.

Realize that while the coat pattern is attractive, the pony's abilities, training and personality should be a good fit first and foremost.

Decide which color pattern you prefer.
POA come in several patterns: mostly white over their loins and hips with dark, egg-shaped spots, white over the loins and hips without spots, or white bodies with spots. Their coat markings are similar to that of an Appaloosa.

The POA stand between 11.2 to 14 hands at the withers and typically weigh 750 to 950 pounds.

Registering a POA foal requires that one of the parents be a registered POA and the other be either a registered POA, from an approved breed, or a grade horse or pony that has been identified for breeding purposes with the Pony of the Americans Club.

Understand that to register a pony of unknown lineage it must be at least two years old and meet color and height requirements to be considered for hardship registration.

Beware that ponies with Paint, pinto or albino parentage or markings cannot be registered.

POAs have mottled skin, particularly around the nose, well-muscled shoulders and forearms, deep chest, refined and slightly dished head, large prominent eyes with white around them, short back, long belly and vertical black-and-white stripes on their hooves.

Choose the POA because it is gentle and easy to train. They excel at trail riding, endurance, driving, gymkhana, dressage, ranch work and hunting.

Realize that the POA tiny stature can make finding well-fitting tack difficult.

Watching the POA weight is always a concern.

Know that ponies are often at a higher risk of laminitis (a severe inflammation of the foot that causes great pain and deformation). This makes managing their diet and exercise especially important.