Miniature Horse

Miniature Horse is a horse breed selectively bred over generations for very small size, standing well under a meter at the shoulder in most breed registries, while retaining the proportions and conformation of a full sized horse rather than the stockier build typical of a pony. Its development draws on small horse and pony stock from several countries, including miniature breeding programs in Europe going back centuries as ornamental animals for wealthy estates, later formalized into modern breed registries in the United States in the twentieth century. Miniature Horses are kept today mainly as companion animals, for showing in hand and in harness, and, because of their calm and trainable temperament, some are trained as guide animals for people with visual impairments, an alternative role to guide dogs. Multiple registries maintain separate but overlapping standards and height limits for the breed.