pony

American  

[poh-nee] / ˈpoʊ ni /

noun

• ponies
  plural

1. a small horse of any of several breeds, usually not higher at the shoulder than 14½ hands (58 inches/146 centimeters).

2. a horse of any small type or breed.

3. Slang. a literal translation or other text, used illicitly as an aid in schoolwork or while taking a test; crib.

4. something small of its kind.

5. a small glass for liquor.

6. the amount of liquor it will hold, usually one ounce (29.6 milliliters).

7. a small beverage bottle, often holding seven ounces (196 grams).

   We bought a dozen ponies of Mexican beer.

8. Older Slang. a diminutive chorus girl.

9. pony pack.

10. British Slang. the sum of 25 pounds.

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verb (used with object)

ponied, ponying

1. Slang. to prepare (lessons) by means of a pony.

2. Racing Slang.

   1. to be the outrider for (a racehorse).

   2. to exercise (a racehorse) by having a rider mounted on another horse lead it at a gallop around a track.

verb (used without object)

ponied, ponying

1. to prepare a lesson or lessons with the aid of a pony.

idioms

1. pony up, to pay (money), as in settling an account.

   Next week you'll have to pony up the balance of the loan.

pony British  

/ ˈpəʊnɪ /

noun

1. any of various breeds of small horse, usually under 14.2 hands

2. 1. a small drinking glass, esp for liqueurs

   2. the amount held by such a glass

3. anything small of its kind

4. slang a sum of £25, esp in bookmaking

5. Also called: trot. slang a literal translation used by students, often illicitly, in preparation for foreign language lessons or examinations; crib

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pony More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pony

• dog-and-pony show

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ponies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pony

First recorded in 1650–60; earlier powney, from obsolete French poulenet, diminutive of poulain “colt,” from Medieval Latin pullānus ( Latin pull(us) “young animal” + -ānus adjective suffix); see foal, -an, -et

Explanation

A pony is just like a horse, only shorter. Riding a pony can be less intimidating than riding a horse, because you sit a little closer to the ground. Giddy-up! Many people think that ponies are young horses, but they're entirely different (though closely related) animals. A pony is smaller than a horse, with shorter legs, although often thicker and sturdier proportionally through the body. To pony up, on the other hand, doesn't have anything to do with equines: it means to pay money: "If you want a cup of lemonade, you'll have to pony up a dollar."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pony ponies ponied ponying

He’s a one-trick pony: “Sir, she said. Sir.”

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

“I still have anxieties, but tending to the aging animals keeps me from obsessing over things that don’t matter. My pony, Cliff, is 38. Every day I have with him is a gift. It’s grounding.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

Taxpayers would have to pony up even more if not for the AI boom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

“He’s the size of a small pony, so traveling with him could be a challenge. He’d definitely be missed, though.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

“I’ll never see them again. I’ll never have a pony or a gun—not ever.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

She said the ponies also visited another patient after staff were asked if they could stop by a second room.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

He once told a lobbyist who raised quarter horses that he owned a herd of polo ponies, just to one-up him.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

"It was unreal," he said, adding that while ponies grazing on the mountain had escaped, he feared for a neighbour's pigs as flames swept through surrounding land.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Our daughter seems to love our four ponies most, probably because they’re like large dogs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

So she let herself sleep, too, and dreamed only of happy things: chirping songbirds and Black Forest cake, and sweet-tempered ponies with long red ribbons braided through their silky manes.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

It has poured money into youth development, splurged on a state of the art training facility, and ponied up unconscionable sums to attract leading coaches from Germany, Italy and, oddly, Sweden.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

Because by the time you have ponied up for a replica jersey, a ticket for the 12-minute journey to the Meadowlands on NJ Transit and a 22 oz.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

“College sports are basically pro sports teams now,” Neirotti said of the money being ponied up to recruit and retain players.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 24, 2026

Despite my shoddy work ethic, and despite the fact that I’d still ponied up only $17, Cathy remained warm and supportive.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2025

It was past midnight and he had me dead to rights; but before I got done with him he had ponied up a silver quarter and given me the address of an all-night restaurant.

From The Road by Jack London

Hawk estimated he is saving 80% by buying tickets for a potential game in Oklahoma City instead of ponying up for seats at Madison Square Garden.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Some of those billionaires are also ponying up to defeat the measure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

In fact, all the oligarchs are ponying up big bucks for that event.

From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2025

Nearby, the team store under the left field bleachers did a brisk business, with some ponying up $200 for jerseys with Skenes’ No. 30 stitched on the back.

From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2024

“Or if you turn into one of those girlfriends, always ponying around after her boyfriend, and speaking in the first-person plural. ‘We love the winter.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman