我们是小盆友最爱 — 呆萌的PONY！

任何肩高低于14.5个手掌的成年马就能被列为pony，但你知道很多时候实际并非理论如此，实际上，我们把任何已经成年且身高低于58英寸的马叫做pony，但是除了身高，pony当然还有其他能用于分辨的特征。许多品种的pony都有厚、宽的身体和厚实的脖子，他们的腿长根据自身会比一般的马腿成比例的缩短。有些品种pony的额头会很宽，眼睛会很大，甚至会有和身体比例不协调的大蹄子。

Generally speaking, the difference between a horse and a pony comes down to height: a horse is usually at least 14.2 hands (4 ft 10 in, 147 cm) tall at the area between the shoulders, while ponies are shorter than that. Besides the height distinction, ponies tend to have a set of physical characteristics that horses don't, and are generally very strong for their size. There are a number of exceptions though, both because of height variations within breeds and because of traditions about the names of certain breeds. Despite their differences, both animals can be used for riding, pulling carts, and farming, among other things.

Ponies generally have stocky frames, with short legs, big chests, and thick necks. They generally are much stronger, relative to size, than horses, and tend to be hardier and more resistant to cold weather. They also tend to be quite intelligent, and as a result can often be very stubborn.

It is important to recognize that the distinction between pony and horse is judged based on an animal's height when it is fully grown, and based on the characteristics of the breed as a whole. Young horses and ponies, called foals, are usually less than 14.2 hands, but if they are horses then they'll nearly always get bigger than that as they grow. People often confuse foals for ponies, but ponies are strong and functional, while foals are still growing, and can't be used for riding or other work.

What? Why? In a word, phenotypes. In more words, the answer lies in their temperament and physical makeup. Ponies are typically much stockier than their horse relatives. They also have thicker manes, tails, and coats, so are better able to endure cold weather. They have proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels (body of the pony that encloses the ribcage and all major internal organs), heavier bones, shorter and thicker necks, and short heads with broader foreheads. They also typically have calmer temperaments and a high level of equine intelligence which can be used to a human handler’s advantage. Children love getting pony rides don't they?