Pony Names
Ponies are small in height but huge in personality. Officially, a pony stands under 14.2 hands (58 inches) at the withers, and breeds like the Shetland, Welsh and Connemara are famous for being clever, hardy and occasionally cheeky. Here are more than 90 pony names grouped by style: cute and sweet picks, candy names, famous ponies, names by breed heritage, storybook names for a child's first pony, and tiny names for miniature horses.
Many of the best pony names also work for bigger horses, so browse our main horse names list too. If your pony is the barn clown, you'll love our funny horse names, and our unicorn names are a hit with young riders.
Cute pony names
Sweet, bouncy names that suit a pony's small size and big heart.
| Name | Meaning / inspiration | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut | Small and nutty | Tiny ponies |
| Buttons | Small and round | Chubby ponies |
| Pippin | A small apple; a hobbit | Adventurous ponies |
| Bramble | The blackberry bush | Shaggy, wild ponies |
| Dandelion | The yellow wildflower | Palomino ponies |
| Sprinkles | Colorful dessert topping | Spotted ponies |
| Bluebell | The woodland flower | Blue roan ponies |
| Snowdrop | The white winter flower | White or grey ponies |
| Freckles | Tiny spots | Appaloosa ponies |
| Twinkle | A sparkling star | Ponies with a star marking |
| Tinkerbell | Peter Pan's fairy | Mischievous mares |
| Bambi | The Disney fawn | Gentle, doe-eyed ponies |
| Cupcake | Small sweet cake | Sweet mares |
| Puddles | For the pony who loves splashing | Water lovers |
| Teddy | Like a teddy bear | Fluffy winter coats |
Classic pony names for mares and geldings
Tried-and-true names you'll hear at pony clubs everywhere. For older-style picks, try our vintage girl names.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Nutmeg | The warm brown spice | Bay or chestnut ponies |
| Pumpkin | The round orange squash | Chubby chestnuts |
| Polly | Rhyming pet form of Molly (Mary) | Cheerful mares |
| Poppy | The red flower | Bright mares |
| Maisie | Scottish pet form of Margaret, “pearl” | Sweet mares |
| Holly | The evergreen shrub | Winter-born ponies |
| Penny | From Penelope; the copper coin | Copper-colored ponies |
| Rosie | From the rose | Affectionate mares |
| Charlie | English, “free man” | Friendly geldings |
| Barney | Short for Barnabas, “son of consolation” | Gentle geldings |
| Monty | Short for Montgomery, Norman place name | Dapper geldings |
| Oscar | Irish, “deer lover” | Cheeky geldings |
| Tom Thumb | The tiny hero of English folklore | Very small ponies |
| Sparky | Full of energy | Lively geldings |
| Jasper | Persian, “treasurer”; a red stone | Chestnut geldings |
| Rocky | Tough and sturdy | Hardy native ponies |
Sweet treat and candy names
Ponies are notorious for their sweet tooth (and for being easy keepers who get fat on air). These names celebrate that. Our food cat names offer more tasty ideas.
| Name | Treat | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Taffy | Chewy saltwater candy | Palomino ponies |
| Toffee | Buttery caramel | Light chestnuts |
| Fudge | Soft chocolate candy | Dark brown ponies |
| Gingersnap | Spicy cookie | Chestnut ponies |
| Marshmallow | Fluffy white sweet | White ponies |
| Caramel | Golden candy | Palominos and buckskins |
| Jellybean | Colorful candy | Paint ponies |
| Gumdrop | Small round candy | Round ponies |
| Butterscotch | Buttery candy | Golden ponies |
| Truffle | Rich chocolate | Dark bays |
| Snickerdoodle | Cinnamon sugar cookie | Cream ponies |
| Lollipop | Candy on a stick | Cheerful ponies |
| Skittles | Rainbow candy | Colorful pintos |
| Muffin | Small puffy cake | Chubby ponies |
Famous ponies
From children's classics to real-life legends, these ponies earned their fame.
| Name | Famous from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Misty | <em>Misty of Chincoteague</em> by Marguerite Henry (1947) | Based on a real Chincoteague pony |
| Stormy | <em>Stormy, Misty's Foal</em> (1963) | Misty's real-life foal |
| Merrylegs | The grey pony in <em>Black Beauty</em> | Kind children's ponies |
| Stroller | A 14.2-hand pony who won Olympic show jumping silver (1968) | Brave jumpers |
| Twilight Sparkle | <em>My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic</em> | Young fans |
| Rainbow Dash | <em>My Little Pony</em> | Speedy ponies |
| Pinkie Pie | <em>My Little Pony</em> | Bubbly ponies |
| Applejack | <em>My Little Pony</em> | Hard-working farm ponies |
| Fluttershy | <em>My Little Pony</em> | Shy ponies |
| Li'l Sebastian | The beloved mini horse in <em>Parks and Recreation</em> | Miniature horses |
Pony names by breed heritage
Many pony breeds come from the British Isles, so Scottish, Welsh and Irish names feel especially fitting. See Scottish names, Welsh names and Irish names for more.
| Name | Meaning / pronunciation | Breed match |
|---|---|---|
| Lerwick | Main town of the Shetland Islands | Shetland ponies |
| Skye | The Isle of Skye | Highland ponies |
| Hamish | Scottish form of James (HAY-mish) | Shetlands and Highlands |
| Morag | Scottish Gaelic, “great” (MOH-rag) | Highland mares |
| Isla | Scottish island name (EYE-la) | Shetland mares |
| Angus | Gaelic, “one strength” | Stocky Highlands |
| Bryn | Welsh, “hill” (brin) | Welsh Mountain ponies |
| Dylan | Welsh, “son of the sea” | Welsh Section B ponies |
| Cerys | Welsh, “love” (KEH-ris) | Welsh mares |
| Gwen | Welsh, “white, blessed” | Grey Welsh ponies |
| Connor | Irish, “lover of hounds” | Connemaras |
| Niamh | Irish, “bright” (NEEV) | Connemara mares |
| Galway | The Irish county that includes Connemara | Connemaras |
| Clover | Lucky Irish shamrock | Irish ponies |
| Exmoor | The English moorland breed's home | Exmoor ponies |
| Dartmoor | The Devon moor | Dartmoor ponies |
| Chincoteague | Virginia's island pony town | Assateague ponies |
Storybook names for a child's first pony
A first pony is a big deal. These gentle names come from favorite books and fairy tales, much like our fairy names.
| Name | From | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Pooh | <em>Winnie-the-Pooh</em> | Cuddly ponies |
| Piglet | <em>Winnie-the-Pooh</em> | Small, nervous ponies |
| Paddington | <em>Paddington Bear</em> | Brown ponies |
| Beatrix | For Beatrix Potter | Gentle mares |
| Peter Rabbit | Beatrix Potter's rascal | Naughty geldings |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl's clever heroine | Smart mares |
| Willy Wonka | <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</em> | Candy-loving ponies |
| Alice | <em>Alice in Wonderland</em> | Curious ponies |
| Dorothy | <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> | Adventurers |
| Toto | Dorothy's little dog | Mini horses |
| Wilbur | The pig in <em>Charlotte's Web</em> | Sweet geldings |
| Pinocchio | The wooden boy | Fibbers (they always are) |
Tiny names for miniature horses
Miniature horses usually measure under 34 to 38 inches, depending on the registry. Tiny or delightfully oversized names both work; our small dog names are full of pocket-sized ideas too.
| Name | Why it works | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Pebble | A small smooth stone | Grey minis |
| Button Nose | For a tiny muzzle | Cute minis |
| Tater Tot | Small and golden | Palomino minis |
| Tic Tac | The tiny mint | White minis |
| Nugget | A small lump of gold | Golden minis |
| Shrimp | A tiny sea creature | The smallest of the herd |
| Munchkin | From <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> | Little characters |
| Bitsy | Itsy-bitsy | Very small minis |
| Pixie | A tiny sprite | Mischievous mares |
| Mini Cooper | The small car | Speedy minis |
| Big Ben | London's huge clock bell | Ironic for a mini |
| Hercules | The strongest hero | Hilarious on a tiny horse |
How to choose a pony name
- Let the kids help. If a child will ride the pony, a name they chose themselves builds a real bond.
- Match the name to the breed's heritage: Scottish for a Shetland or Highland, Welsh for a Welsh Mountain pony, Irish for a Connemara.
- Keep it easy to say. Children and beginner riders will be calling this name a lot.
- Ponies can live 30 years or more, so pick something that won't feel babyish if the pony passes on to an older rider.
- Use color and markings: Toffee for a chestnut, Marshmallow for a grey, Freckles for an Appaloosa.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cute name for a pony?
Peanut, Buttons, Pippin, Taffy, Sprinkles and Bluebell are some of the cutest pony names.
What is the difference between a pony and a horse?
A pony is generally an equine under 14.2 hands (58 inches) at the withers. Ponies also tend to have thicker manes, shorter legs and stockier builds than horses.
What is the most famous pony?
Misty of Chincoteague, from Marguerite Henry's 1947 book, is probably the most famous real pony in America. The My Little Pony characters are the best-known fictional ponies.
What should I name a Shetland pony?
Scottish names like Hamish, Isla, Morag or Lerwick suit Shetlands, as do cute names like Peanut, Nugget or Buttons.
How long do ponies live?
Ponies are famous for their longevity and often live 25 to 30 years or more, longer than many full-size horses.