Questions & Answers

What is the Pink Pony?

The Pink Pony is an image created in Medibang Paint and uploaded as a PNG. It depicts a small plush horse in the colors of the transgender flag: its coat is pink; its mane, tail, and hooves are blue; and its blaze, muzzle, and socks are white. Its shape is based on the limited edition Secretariat Beanie Baby and the 8" Douglas plush horses. In the original image, the horse is depicted with no flank markings and sports a rainbow saddle blanket; in the print-friendly version, the horse has no blanket and a large white patch over its flank (what is confusingly also referred to as a blanket, or snowcap) with pink spots in it. Several versions have also been released with the hand-lettered phrase "We're gonna keep on dancin'" (the original is the one with the white lettering). The original had a transparent background, but for ease of viewing in social media posts I have added a dark grey background when necessary.

The Pink Pony also exists as several custom-print vinyl stickers roughly 4"x4", which have been stuck onto public surfaces and given to various people in an undisclosed area in the United States.

Why the pink pony? What does this have to do with Chappell Roan's hit "Pink Pony Club"?

Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" is the ballad of a young woman leaving her small town in Tennessee for West Hollywood, a city in Southern California known for a its extensive queer history and culture. There, Roan describes the subject as finding a sense of belonging while dancing at a gay club against her mother's wishes. The ballad describes the complicated relationship between one's upbringing, which they may still hold dearly in their heart, and the need for unconditional love and a sense of community, which may have been previously out of reach.

Although Roan's discography largely revolves around her experiences as a lesbian, I often find myself relating to them as someone who grew up predominantly-female social spaces. "Pink Pony Club" in particular hit me as someone who also grew up in a conservative family and neighborhood, and who feels desperate to escape and find a place where I really belong. For me, Roan's "Pink Pony Club" extends to all of the queer community, and its message is a cry for joy as a means of protest: although it certainly won't make our family proud, we should not be afraid to "cause a scene", and instead should "keep on dancing" despite it all.

Okay, but how can I be sure that these are real, genuine Pink Ponies, and that you didn't just steal these from the Internet?

Fair enough, and I commend you for practicing healthy skepticism on the Internet. That said, do actually have the sketches to prove it:

You may have seen these online before, as I have previously posted these horses on my Bluesky and Tumblrs under the pseudonym Chess.

I want to join your cause. How do I do that?

Good news! All you have to do is use the Pink Pony image and spread the word. What form should you use the image in? What are the limitations on the image? Find out more on the Gallery and Join Us pages.

What if I want to make my own pony, or redraw your own?

That would be lovely! I think the best way you can share that is by tagging it with #pinkponycoalition on your socials. (I'll find it, probably!) Actually, I've left transparent versions on the Gallery page that you may find halpful.