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

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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

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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

“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

Amazon.com, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Oracle are expected to pony up more than $1.1 trillion in 2027, up from $650 billion this year.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

Along with losing the coconuts, I had given up my calf, and I wasn’t any closer to having my pony and .22 than I was the day Rowdy treed the first monkey.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

They lived near the city at Tilley Farm, Fisher's 90-acre sanctuary in Farmborough, where she cared for rescued horses, ponies and donkeys.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

They intend to lean heavily on their starting pitchers in an age when they have been transformed from workhorses into show ponies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 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

And before all you horse lovers come at me, I know ponies are capable of affection and friskiness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

Since Mrs. Fayne knew about ponies, Nancy asked her, "Can Shetland ponies jump?"

From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene

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

The two-time defending World Series champions ponied up a combined $309 million to sign two free agents, world-class closer Edwin Díaz and four-time All-Star corner outfielder Kyle Tucker.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026

I even ponied up for a pay-per-view a few years back to see Mayweather spend eight rounds gently caressing Jake’s overmatched older brother, Logan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 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

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

It also pays for police, courts, banking regulators and largely free healthcare for some of the world’s most remote settlements, as well as managing foreign affairs and ponying up for defense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026

Orenstein is banking on visitors ponying up for the convenience of parking at the property and walking to the stadium while everyone else navigates traffic jams and long rideshare waits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2025

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

From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2025

But, he said, the Soviets were ponying up.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2023

“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

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