Pony of the Americas facts for kids
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| Distinguishing features | Appaloosa coloring, small size, suitable for riding |
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| Alternative names | POA |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Breed standards | |
| Pony of the Americas Club | Breed standards |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Pony of the Americas (often called POA) is a special pony breed that started in Iowa, a state in the United States. It was created from a mix of an Arabian, an Appaloosa, and a Shetland pony.
A group called the Pony of the Americas Club was formed in 1954 to register these ponies. In just 15 years, over 12,500 ponies were registered! Today, the POA Club is one of the biggest and most active groups for young horse riders in the US. Even though they are called "ponies," POAs actually look like small horses. They have features from both Arabian horses and American Quarter Horses. The club allows some other breeds to be mixed in, but only if the ponies have the special Appaloosa colors and meet certain height and body shape rules. POAs are often used for Western riding, but they are also good at many other activities like driving carriages, endurance riding, and some English riding styles.
What Makes a POA Special?
To be registered with the Pony of the Americas Club, a pony must have clear Appaloosa coloring. This means you should be able to see the color from about 40 feet away! This special coloring includes spots or patterns, often with mottled skin around the eyes and muzzle. Their eyes also show white around the iris, and their hooves often have stripes.
Ponies with Pinto coloring are not allowed. Also, breeds known for Pinto coloring, like the American Paint Horse, cannot be part of a POA's family tree. POAs usually have a slightly curved face, a strong, muscular body, a deep chest, and well-sloped shoulders. They are usually between 11.2 and 14 hands tall. (A hand is about 4 inches, so that's about 46 to 56 inches tall). Even though they are called ponies, they look more like small horses, similar to a mix of an American Quarter Horse and an Arabian.
The Pony of the Americas Club registers foals (baby ponies) born from two registered POAs. They also allow crosses with certain other breeds. These include Connemaras, Galiceno ponies, Australian Stock Horses, Morgans, and Thoroughbreds. These crossbred ponies can become full members if they meet all the physical requirements. Crosses with other breeds, like Quarter ponies, Shetland ponies, Anglo-Arabs, Spanish Mustangs, and Welsh ponies, are sometimes accepted on a case-by-case basis.
History of the POA Breed
The POA breed was started in the 1950s in Iowa by a Shetland pony breeder named Les Boomhower. The first important stallion (male horse) for the breed was named Black Hand. He was a mix of Arabian, Appaloosa, and Shetland pony, and he had beautiful Appaloosa markings.
Boomhower really liked Black Hand's body shape and calm personality. He decided to use him to create a new breed of Appaloosa-colored ponies. In 1954, Boomhower and some friends started the Pony of the Americas Club. Black Hand was the very first pony registered! A year later, 12 ponies and 23 members had joined the club.
The main goal of the club was to create a medium-sized pony. This pony would be perfect for older children and small adults. They wanted it to have the colorful Appaloosa markings, the graceful look of an Arabian, and the strong muscles and bones of an American Quarter Horse.
When the breed first started, ponies had to be between 44 and 52 inches tall. Over the years, these height rules changed a bit. By 1985, the maximum height was set at 56 inches.
In its first 15 years, the club registered 12,500 ponies. Over time, the Shetland pony blood has mostly been bred out. This helped the POA keep the look of a small stock horse, which was what the founders wanted. The Pony of the Americas Club held its first national meeting in 1988. In 1990, they even started a Hall of Fame for special members and ponies.
By 2012, over 50,000 ponies had been registered! The POA Club is now one of the biggest youth horse registries in the world. It has over 2,000 members and more than 40 local chapters.
Even though POAs were first used for Western riding and working with cattle, they now compete in many different events. These include endurance riding, three-day eventing (which combines jumping, cross-country, and dressage), show hunter classes, and driving. They are also good at jumping and can even do dressage, which is like horse ballet.
At first, only riders under 16 could show POAs in riding classes. Adults could only show them in halter (where the horse is judged on its looks) or driving classes. In 1973, the age limit for riders was raised to 18. Then, in 1987, adults aged 19 and older were allowed to ride and show younger POAs (two to four years old).
