A Shetland pony is a small, sturdy breed of horse that originally came from the Shetland Islands, a group of cold, windswept islands north of Scotland. These ponies rarely grow taller than about 42 inches at the shoulder (roughly the height of a kitchen counter), making them much smaller than regular horses.

Don't let their size fool you. Shetland ponies are incredibly strong for their compact build. For centuries, they hauled fishing equipment and carried peat (dried plant matter used for fuel) across rough terrain. During the 1800s, many worked in British coal mines, pulling heavy carts through narrow tunnels where larger horses couldn't fit.

Today, Shetland ponies are popular for children learning to ride, though their famously stubborn personalities mean they're not always easy to handle. They have thick, shaggy coats that help them survive harsh winters, and many have long manes and tails that give them an adorably scruffy appearance.

The phrase Shetland pony sometimes appears in comparisons to show how surprisingly strong something small can be, the way you might say a determined younger sibling has “the strength of a Shetland pony” when they refuse to give up on something difficult.