Miniature horses are found in many nations, particularly in Europe and the Americas. While miniature horses are the size of a very small pony, many retain horse characteristics and are considered "horses" by their respective registries. They also have various colors and coat patterns.

Miniature horses are very friendly and interact well with people. For this reason they are often kept as family pets, though they still retain natural horse behaviour. They are generally quite hardy, often living longer on average than some full-sized horse breeds; the average life span of miniature horses is from 25 to 35 years.