SIZE: The Quarter Pony is required to mature at or under 14.2 hands. Care must be taken to remember that "big" is not necessarily "better" in the Quarter Pony world. All ponies are required to mature between 11.2hh and 14.2hh.

COLOUR: Quarter Ponies can come in any colour or colour pattern.

HEAD: The head of a Quarter Pony reflects alert intelligence. This is due to his short, broad head, topped by small ears, and by his wide set, kind eyes and large, sensative nostrils over a firm mouth. Well developed jaws give the impression of great strength.

NECK: The head of a Quarter Pony joins the neck at a near forty-five degree angle, with a distance between jaw-bone and neck muscle. The medium length, slightly arched neck then blends into sloping shoulders.

SHOULDERS: The Quarter Pony's unusally good saddle back is created by his medium-high but sharp withers extending well back and combining with his deep sloping shoulders so that the saddle is held in proper position for balanced action.

CHEST & FORELEGS: The Quarter Pony is deep and broad chested, as indicated by his great heart girth and his wide-set heavy forelegs which blend into his shoulders. The smooth joints and very short cannons are set on clean fetlocks and the medium length pasterns are supported by sound feet. The powerfully muscled forearm tapers to the knee whether viewed from the front or side.

BACK: The short saddle back of the Quarter Pony is characterized by being close coupled and especially full and powerful across the kidney. The barrel is formed by deep, well sprung ribs back to the hip joints, and the under lines comes back straight to the flank.

REAR QUARTERS: The rear quarters are broad, deep, and heavy, viewed from either side or rear, and are muscled so they are full through the thigh, stifle, gaskin, and down to the hock. The hind leg is muscled inside and out, the whole indicating the great driving power the Quarter Pony possesses. When viewed from the rear, there is great width extending evenly from top to bottom of the stifle and gaskin. The hocks are wide, deep, straight, and clean.

BONE, LEGS, & FEET: The flat, clean bones are free from fleshiness and puffs that still show a world of substance. The foot is well rounded and roomy, with an especially deep, open heel, feet should never be upright.

STANCE: The Quarter Pony normally stands perfectly at ease with his legs well under him; this explains his ability to move quickly in any direction.

ACTION: The Quarter Pony is very collected in his action and turns and stops with noticeable ease and balance, with his hocks always well under him. High knee action will not be tollerated.

It should always be remembered that the primary purpose of the Quarter Pony is as a user friendly pony. Conformation must be indicitive of good movement and soundness in whatever discipline the rider/driver chooses. Care should be taken to consider that ponies shown at halter are often involved in other disciplines at the same time. Ponies should be judged in performance condition. Pulled manes are not required as some disciplines call for the mane to be flowing. However, good grooming should be evident and mane should not obscure the pony's conformation.