THE PONY BREEDS OF HORSES 165 
is met by crossing with Standardbred and Thoroughbred 
sires. The Bronco in the wild state can be ridden down 
and captured without much difficulty by good, domestic 
horses, even when carrying the weight of a rider, if 
it can be approached sufficiently close to allow any- 
thing like equality in the start. 
192. The Indian pony. — The pony of the northern 
states and northwest Canada is a better animal than 
that of the southern states, although often they are inter- 
bred. The northern pony rarely exceeds thirteen hands, 
almost never fourteen, unless he is cross-bred, and is 
more compact, better ribbed up and a better boned pony 
than the Bronco. He is short in barrel and strong in 
limb, has very good feet, heavy mane and _ tail, and 
often considerable hair on his legs, all of which would 
seem to indicate his Norman origin. These ponies are 
very hardy, and, while not fast, will cover long distances 
with ease. They are, moreover, more intelligent, have 
better dispositions and display more courage than the 
Bronco. 
193. Use of Broncos and Indian ponies. —In the 
West these ponies are used for saddle purposes, espe- 
cially for cow-herding, although they are fast being re- 
placed by better horses. Ponies of both types are brought 
East and used in cities in delivery wagons and for light 
driving purposes, or as saddle ponies. The best of them 
are sometimes used as polo mounts. They are not bred, 
as a rule, except in the western states on large ranches, 
it being more profitable to raise other breeds of horses 
or ponies in the eastern states, where the cost of feed 
is high. These ponies are used as foundation stock 
from which to breed a more improved type of pony or 
horse, the mares being bred to Hackneys, trotting, car- 
