Cross Breeds

What is the difference in shetland ponies and miniature horses?

Public Comments

1. One is a horse and the other is a pony--two different species.
2. Horses and ponies are not different species - just different breeds with different characteristics (such as height, build, personality) within the same species. The difference is, miniature horses were bred down from horses, and have many of the same characteristics of a large horse, just in miniature. Shetlands were bred as ponies, and have definite pony characteristics. Miniatures are shorter and built lighter than a Shetland. Just google pictures of both and you can probably see some of the more obvious differences... especially when you look at top show quality miniatures, who often look like tiny arabian horses. Shetlands tend to be more stocky and fuzzy (except for American shetlands which are bred to be more sleek).