war pony

plural war ponies

1. A pony (small horse) used in battle.

   He crept to the back of an enemy lodge and cut the picket rope of a fine bay war pony.

   1951, Dorothy M. Johnson, Warrior's Exile; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 64

   2 more examples

   General Crook found the Sioux and their allies armed with the best modern breech-loaders, well supplied with ammunition and countless herds of war ponies, and far too numerous and powerful to be handled by the small force at his command.

   1889 December 21, The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, NSW, page 5, column 2

   Yuan's war pony stands saddled day and night, and Yuan's retinue waits by hours outside the Empress Dowager's gate.

   1906 January 6, The Australian Town and Country Journal, Sydney, page 27, column 4