US Govt rules airlines must allow miniature horses to fly as 'Service Animals'

Yes to plane ponies, says US. Photo / Twitter, Getty Images

The land of the free, and late capitalism, is also the land of the "emotional support animal".

Somehow.

Crikey, me too. Photo / Getty

Phew, much better. Photo / Getty Images

Anyway, on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued its final say on the subject and added miniature horses to the list of service animals that can fly in any cabin.

Emotional support pony pic.twitter.com/Hhg1wrR8Xa

— Jared Dillian (@dailydirtnap) January 19, 2017

Ponies are 2-3 feet tall and weigh up to 45 kilos. Living up to 35 years, they are not unlike large dogs in their comforting presence and ability to perform complex tasks.

I'm dying over this service animal pony! #Crewlife #mylittlepony pic.twitter.com/osrg5dqN1G

— Stephanie (@kamkar7) April 27, 2017

Trained miniature horses are officially recognised in the Americans with Disabilities Act as legitimate service animals and the agency has decided they must be able to fly.

An Emotional Support PONY on an airplane. It happens! pic.twitter.com/LdWmV0eG2y

— Mojo In The Morning (@MojoInTheMorn) January 13, 2016

The declaration isn't a law, but it indicates that there could be punishments for the U.S. airlines that violate it.

Excuse me, off to see a man about a pony.