Pony of the Americas are a horse breed native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are not a recognized breed by the American Quarter Horse Association (or AQHA) but are instead registered by the Pony of the Americas Registry (POAR). The POAR was formed in 1985 when the former Pony of the Americas Breeders Association merged with the National Association of Pony Clubs (NAPC). The Pony of the Americas is the largest of the pony breeds and is also the most popular. There are over 55,000 registered horses in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. They are all registered with the POAR.