Rumor has it that these tiny equines were bred as companions for European nobility as early as the 1600's, but the earliest recorded record of them was in 1765.

Today, the goal of breeding minis is to make smallest possible perfect horse, with ideal personality traits of much larger breeds. There is a lot of controversy in the horse world about whether Miniature Horses are ponies or horses. While technically any equine shorter than 14.2 hands is considered a pony, some argue that Miniature Horses have the physical appearance (phenotype) of a horse.

Miniature Horses are seen in various types of performance classes, and have been known to be guide animals for visually impaired humans!

There are two main breed registries for the Miniature Horse, AMHA (American Miniature Horse Association) and AMHR (American Miniature Horse Registry). The AMHA says that ALL minis must be shorter than 34 inches to be registered, while the AMHR will register minis up to 38 inches in height.

Height: 38 inches or shorter

Weight: 250 pounds

Coat Colors: All colors

Markings: Any markings

Conformation: Small; short, stout legs and elongated torsos

Common Uses: Companion animals, show animals, and therapy animals

Temperament: Friendly and intelligent

Place of Origin: Europe