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

But will customers pony up for the upscale grocer’s newest offering, a $12 cup of “Sacred Water”?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

Coors is credited with introducing the first aluminum-can pony in the late 1950s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

“Grandpa,” I shouted as I darted through the door, “that paint pony has a bad cut on its leg.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

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

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

A lifelong horse lover was able to spend time with two ponies in the final days of her life after a community appeal helped arrange a surprise hospice visit.

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

“Grandpa,” I said, “are those the only ponies Indian Tom had to sell?”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

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 about the money being ponied up to recruit and retain players.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 11, 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

Who ponied up all the money for such expenditures?

From Unborn Tomorrow by Kelly Freas

In their 2021 book Peril, Bob Woodward and Robert Costa uncover a broader angle on Graham’s ponying up to power.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

McMorris said that while these payments don’t violate any laws, they are “ripe for abuse” because companies and people likely aren’t ponying up cash just to be good citizens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026

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

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to all those air travelers ponying up a small fortune to visit your family.

From Salon ● Nov. 28, 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

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