The domestic goat can be traced historically to the wild goats of Asia as far as 9000 years ago. Goats vary greatly in size, shape, and color, but regardless of their origins, they all share the same basic characteristics. They are capricious, intelligent, and playful animals with a great need for companionship. The African Pygmy is a true miniature because its body conformation is so similar to that of the larger dairy breeds. They stand between 15 and 20 inches tall at the shoulder, and some are almost as wide as they are tall.
Males are usually taller than females.
They are fine-boned with a straight or slightly dished face, erect ears, and a long refined neck. The African Pygmy comes in a variety of colors, ranging from brown, black, white, red or golden, often in combination with random white markings. Their hair is short and fine during the summer, but they can adapt to colder climates by producing a thick, wooly undercoat. They are hardy goats, thriving as well in heat and humidity as extreme cold. The African Pygmy is a miniature dairy goat with milk production being quite generous for their small size.