Pony of the Americas
Encyclopedia
The Pony of the Americas, or the POA, was developed to be a children’s pony. The breed’s origins are in America, where an Iowa
breeder accidentally crossed a Shetland
stallion with an Arabian
/Appaloosa
mare to produce a pony-sized mount with leopard complex
spotting.
, but not the size of a full-sized horse
. The breed standard originally had the height requirement between 11 and 13 hands (44 to 52 in (111.8 to 132.1 cm)). However, since that time the height range has been changed to 11.2-14.0 hands (46 to 56 in (116.8 to 142.2 cm)).
The head
has large, expressive eye
s with a small, refined, and sometimes has a "dished" face similar to an Arabian
. The body
is more like a stock horse, with plenty of muscling like a Quarter Horse
, with a broad chest
, round belly
, sloping shoulders
, and powerful hindquarters. The pony should have free-flowing movement, and the tail
is never carried high. Today's POAs have the desirable movement of a forward-moving Quarter or Appaloosa horse. Troping and "peanut rolling" are discouraged. A level head set, smooth, slow movement and true gaits are desired.
The coloring of the pony must be the markings of an Appaloosa
, and visible from a distance of 40 feet (12 m). This includes the spotted coat in any Appaloosa pattern and the white sclera
, mottled skin around the eye, muzzle, and genitals, as well as striped hooves.
mare that had been accidentally bred to a Shetland Pony stallion. Boomhower accepted the offer after the foal
, a colt
, was born. The Appaloosa-marked colt was named Black Hand, and he became the foundation sire
for the breed.
Other breeds, including the American Quarter Horse
, Welsh Pony, Thoroughbred
, Mustang
and Arabian have been used to infuse athleticism, stamina, and size.
Today there are almost 50,000 registered POAs in the United States
. The ponies are presently being bred to have less Shetland Pony
blood, with breeders striving for conformation that resembles a horse rather than a pony.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
breeder accidentally crossed a Shetland
Shetland pony
The Shetland pony is a breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles. Shetlands range in size from a minimum height of approximately 28 inches to an official maximum height of 42 inches at the withers. Shetland ponies have heavy coats, short legs and are considered quite intelligent...
stallion with an Arabian
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
/Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
mare to produce a pony-sized mount with leopard complex
Leopard complex
The leopard complex is a group of genetically-related coat patterns in horses. These patterns range from progressive increases in interspersed white hair similar to graying or roan to distinctive, Dalmatian-like leopard spots on a white coat. Secondary characteristics associated with the leopard...
spotting.
Breed Characteristics
The POA was originally developed for small riders in need of a mount larger than a small ponyPony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
, but not the size of a full-sized horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
. The breed standard originally had the height requirement between 11 and 13 hands (44 to 52 in (111.8 to 132.1 cm)). However, since that time the height range has been changed to 11.2-14.0 hands (46 to 56 in (116.8 to 142.2 cm)).
The head
Head
In anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose and mouth . Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilaterally symmetric forms do....
has large, expressive eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
s with a small, refined, and sometimes has a "dished" face similar to an Arabian
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
. The body
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
is more like a stock horse, with plenty of muscling like a Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
, with a broad chest
Chest
The chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. It is sometimes referred to as the thorax or the bosom.-Chest anatomy - Humans and other hominids:...
, round belly
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
, sloping shoulders
Shoulders
Shoulders is drinking game that involves players competing in a fast paced game attempting to "count" to 21.-Game play:*The game begins with a player slapping his left/right shoulder, this starts the count at 1....
, and powerful hindquarters. The pony should have free-flowing movement, and the tail
Tail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
is never carried high. Today's POAs have the desirable movement of a forward-moving Quarter or Appaloosa horse. Troping and "peanut rolling" are discouraged. A level head set, smooth, slow movement and true gaits are desired.
The coloring of the pony must be the markings of an Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
, and visible from a distance of 40 feet (12 m). This includes the spotted coat in any Appaloosa pattern and the white sclera
Sclera
The sclera , also known as the white or white of the eye, is the opaque , fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye containing collagen and elastic fiber. In the development of the embryo, the sclera is derived from the neural crest...
, mottled skin around the eye, muzzle, and genitals, as well as striped hooves.
History of the POA
The POA first was developed in 1954, when Leslie Boomhower, an Iowa breeder of Shetland Ponies, founded the breed. A friend offered him an Arabian/AppaloosaAppaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
mare that had been accidentally bred to a Shetland Pony stallion. Boomhower accepted the offer after the foal
Foal
A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...
, a colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
, was born. The Appaloosa-marked colt was named Black Hand, and he became the foundation sire
Foundation bloodstock
Foundation bloodstock or foundation stock are horses that are the progenitor, or foundation, of a new horse breed or a given bloodline within a breed. The term is also used in a similar manner when discussing purebred dogs...
for the breed.
Other breeds, including the American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
, Welsh Pony, Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
, Mustang
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
and Arabian have been used to infuse athleticism, stamina, and size.
Today there are almost 50,000 registered POAs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The ponies are presently being bred to have less Shetland Pony
Shetland pony
The Shetland pony is a breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles. Shetlands range in size from a minimum height of approximately 28 inches to an official maximum height of 42 inches at the withers. Shetland ponies have heavy coats, short legs and are considered quite intelligent...
blood, with breeders striving for conformation that resembles a horse rather than a pony.