Pony in exhibit
Scientific Name
Equus caballus
Class
Mammalia
Order
Perissodactyla
Range
Throughout the world
Habitat
Domestic settings and in varied wild settings
Estimated Wild Population
n/a
Pony in exhibit Endangered Status Graph - Not Listed Endangered Status Graph - Not Listed

More Information

Did You Know?

Ponies are descendants of wild horses but have thicker manes, tails, and coats, along with shorter legs and stockier frames. There are many breeds of pony, but only shetland and pinto ponies live at Lincoln Park Zoo. Ponies are commonly used for labor, riding, and showing. Young males are referred to as colts, while young females are called fillies. Offspring mature after 18 months but will continue growing for years.

Like their handlers, ponies have different temperaments from individual to individual. Some are considered intelligent, and others stubborn.

Shetland ponies are naturally docile and have good endurance, making them desirable pack animals.

Animal Care staff working with seal

Commitment to Care

Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.

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Two Chilean flamingos in exhibit

Animals Depend On People Too

When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.

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Asian small-clawed otter in exhibit

Wish List

The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.

Browse the Wish List

African penguin eating a fish

Take Action With Us

Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.

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