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Photograph by Mark J. Barrett/Alamy
The miniature horse, such as this one greeting a cattle egret in a field, is a very small breed of horse. Adults are about the size of a large dog and usually live for 20 to 30 years. -
Photograph by J.D. Pooley/AP Photo
This miniature mare (a female horse) and foal are grazing in an outside field. Miniature horses eat mainly grass, but they can easily eat too much and their weight should be carefully watched. -
Photograph by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
This miniature horse, named Thumbelina, is small enough to be described as a dwarf horse. In fact, it has been called the smallest horse in the world! It is only 17.5 inches (44.5 centimeters) tall and weighs 58 pounds (26 kilograms). A horse's height is measured at its withers, which is a spot at the end of the mane on its back.
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Photograph by Mark J. Barrett/Alamy
A miniature horse stallion and an American paint horse stallion run in a field, showing just how much smaller miniature horses are! The miniature horse breed took several centuries to achieve its unique size. These horses were originally bred small so that they could work in coal mines. -
Photograph by Jamey Stillings/Jupiter Images
Despite their small size, miniature horses can do almost as much as a full-size horse or pony. They can pull carts, be backyard pets, participate in competitions, or even be therapy horses for the disabled. Here, a miniature horse (at left) grazes alongside a regular-size pony. -
Photograph by Mark J. Barrett/Alamy
Miniature horses are strong for their size. They are also friendly and affectionate, making this breed increasingly popular. Here, a baby miniature horse, called a foal, nuzzles its mother. -
Photograph by Conrad Zeglin
Assateague ponies are often found feeding on the salt marshes along Assateague's western shoreline. Assateague wild ponies have roamed the beaches, pine forests, and salt marshes of Assateague Island in Maryland since the 1600s.
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