Pony of the Americas

Origin: United States.

Height: 11.2-13hh.

Color: Appaloosa (showing any of six color patterns).

Character: Willing, gentle, versatile; ideal for the young rider.

Physique: A miniature Appaloosa horse, displaying style, substance andsymmetry. Arab-type head, concave face, large eyes, pointed ears. Goodshoulder, deep chest, short, muscular back, rounded body, hindquarterslengthy and well muscled. Legs clean, and short in the cannon bone. Goodfeet. Neck slightly arched, head held proudly. Gay tail carriage. Action smooth in all its paces, the walk being straight with a long, easy stride, thetrot balanced and free.

The Pony of the Americas is one of the very few breeds to be certain of itsorigin, no doubt because it is one of the newest. It began in 1956, when MrLeslie L. Boomhower, a horse-breeder living in Mason City, Iowa, crosseda Shetland stallion on an Appaloosa mare and got a very attractive miniatureAppaloosa colt, which he called Black Hand. BlackHand was so successful in the show ring, and so much generally admired bythose who appreciated a good children's pony, that he became the founda-tion sire of a new breed.

The Pony of the Americas quickly became popular. It now has its ownStud Book, with P.O.A. Clubs in 24 States and in Canada, and by the end of1971 12,598 ponies were registered. Foals are provisionally included in theregister, but it is not until the ponies are 3 years old that they can officallyqualify for the Stud Book. Qualification is on the basis of height, whichmust not be less than 11.2hh and must not exceed 13hh, on type, which isprecisely laid down, and on coloring, which must conform to one of therecognized Appaloosa patterns. Examinations for registry are carried out byClub inspectors or by veterinary surgeons.

The Pony is intended as a versatile mount for a young rider up to 16 yearsof age. It has proved itself successful on trail rides, and as a show jumper.