The Quarter Pony, a smaller version of the famous American Quarter Horse, is proof of the success and popularity of American stock horse breeds. Developed from the 1960s onwards, the Quarter Pony was intended to be a reliable, steady mount for young riders that also had the athletic qualities of the Quarter Horse. The concept proved to be very popular. Today, many people buy a Quarter Pony not only for their children but for the whole family, as the larger ponies are strong and sturdy enough for an adult rider. Breeders in the USA who sell a Quarter Pony are often members of the American Quarter Pony Association (AQPA). There is also an international registering body, the International Quarter Pony Association (IQPA), which includes the American-based National Quarter Pony Association (NQPA)
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The essential qualities of the Quarter Pony are athleticism, power and good sense. They have the muscular stockiness of the Quarter Horse and can perform the turns, spins and stops for which stock horses are famous. Their heads are short and broad. The regulated height standard means it is only permissible to sell a Quarter Pony up to 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) high. They average around 13.2 hands (54 inches/137 cm) and weigh 800 to 900 lb (370 – 410 kg). Standards for coat colour vary between registries. Riders who want to buy a Quarter Pony with a pinto, appaloosa-coloured or white coat will find these can only be registered with the IQPA as the AQPA only accepts solid colours with some white markings.
In 1964, Howard Wymore of Iowa set up the American Quarter Pony Association to register ponies of under 14.2 hands high that were clearly of western type but did not belong to any registry. At that time there was a lower height restriction on Quarter Horses, but this has subsequently been lifted. Unsurprisingly, unregistered pony-sized Quarter Horses would make an important contribution to the Quarter Pony breed. The AQPA’s criteria were that the ponies should be good utility animals, suitable for a range of showing classes as well as for leisure and trail riding. The association has always accepted crossbred and part-bred animals that meet their registry standards but there are restrictions on coat colours, and gaited animals cannot be included. Further registries, such as the National Quarter Pony Association, which was set up in 1975, followed on from Wymore’s initiative. The NQPA wanted to preserve a smaller version of the Quarter Horse with more of its stocky, muscular qualities in contrast to the taller and finer ponies that were popular for riding classes. Over the years there has been a tendency for the groups to consolidate, and today the NQPA is part of the International Quarter Pony Association (IQPA), which also began in the 1970s. The IQPA is the registry, while the NQPA is a membership organisation with an international subscription. The three organisations work closely together on registering breeding stock, and today there are over 3,000 registered Quarter Ponies.
Versatile Quarter Ponies are at equally at home working on the ranch or giving displays of cow-cutting and roping in the arena. Both adults and children appreciate the breed’s sturdiness, good sense and intelligence. They are a popular choice for pony club activities and trail riding. Many people find their strength and temperament make them a good choice for driving, too.