 General Appearance
Pony Of the Americas should show style and substance,
beauty and symmetry, being a balanced individual regardless
of size and correct in all aspects of conformation, exhibiting
approved color patterns and characteristics. The POA is
between 46 and 56 inches in height at maturity.
The symmetrical and smooth head is clean cut and slightly
dished, showing mottled skin about the nostrils and lips;
forehead is wide; sclera of eyes is white, adding distinctiveness
to head appearance. The neck shows quality with clean
cut throat latch and large windpipe; chest is deep and
blends into well-muscled sloping shoulders; withers are
prominent and well-defined; forearm is well muscled, long,
wide and tapered down to a broad knee; cannons are short,
wide and flat with wide, smooth and strongly supported
fetlocks; pastern is medium long and sloping; hooves are
striped, rounded, deep, open and wide at heels; back is
short and straight; loin is short and wide; underline
is long with the flank well let down; hips are smoothly
covered, being long, sloping and muscular; thighs are
long, muscular and deep, blending into well-rounded quarters;
gaskins are long, wide and muscular, extending to clean,
clearly defined, wide, straight hocks.
Quality of a POA
Quality refers to substance, style and refinement. The
ponies should be well proportioned, the skin soft and
pliable, in good health and flesh (not too fat or too
thin), with the overall appearance of refinement, style,
beauty and substance.
Head and Neck
Showing style and character, the neck should be slightly
arched and clean cut, with a distinctly defined throat
latch. The head should be proportionate in size to the
body, with clean cut features. The eyes should be large,
kind and prominent. The ears should be medium in size,
pointedly alert and well carried.
Hindquarters
The croup should be long, level and muscular; the quarters
and gaskins, deep and muscular. The hocks should be clean
cut and well supporting.
Body
The body should be round, full ribbed, heavily muscled,
with well-sprung ribs; back and loin short, wide and well
muscled, with a long underline.
Forehand
The feet should be proportionate to the size of the pony,
of good shape, wide and deep at the heels. The legs should
be in correct position front, side and rear view; the
pasterns a medium 45 degree angle. The cannons should
be lean and flat; the knees broad, tapering gradually
into cannon. The arm and forearm should show muscle; the
chest should be fairly wide, deep and full. The shoulders
should be deep and well laid in, sloping 45 degrees. The
withers should be prominent with good saddle base.
Legs
The legs should be set squarely under the body, straight
and true at each comer so that the animal is well-balanced
and travels easily. The hocks should be clean-cut, and
well supporting. Cannons should be lean and flat; knees
broad, tapering gradually into cannon. The ankles should
be firm, the sloping pasterns medium length and the fetlocks
clean of excess hair.
Chest
The chest should be fairly wide, deep and full; should6rs
deep and well laid in, sloping 45 degrees. The withers
should be prominent with good saddle base.
Gaits of a POA
This refers to a way of going. Walk - straight with long,
easy stride, true and flat footed. The western jog trot
should be soft, relaxed, and quiet with a definite two
beat gait. At no time should it resemble a running walk
nor should it be rough or stilted. The speed and stride
should be compatible with the pony size. The English trot
should be a free-moving, ground covering stride, executed
in a long, low frame. Excessive knee or hock action is
at no time desirable. Quick, short strides should be penalized.
The lope or canter should be rolling and comfortable with
strong emphasis on a natural three beat, soft lope. A
four beat lope is at no time desirable and should be penalized.
Manners of a POA
Good manners are demonstrated by the pony's obedience
to all commands and includes the ability to stand quietly,
back readily, walk, jog, lope or stop as requested and,
in general, guided by a light mouth. Pulling on bit, head
tossing, breaking stride, traveling in a sideways motion
and wringing the tail are objectionable.
Presence of the POA
Presence refers to animation, self-assurance, alertness
and personality that stem from good breeding, good grooming,
good care, good training, and good handling. Evidence
of being a "professional" in its line is also
present, in that the pony senses what is required and
readily expends the effort necessary to obey the demands
of its rider, driver, or handler.
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Pony Of The Americas Club, Inc.