# Bus-Riding Horses Seeing-Eye Ponies Use Mass Transit in Portland, Oregon By Katie Cordrey | Published 2011-06-16 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seeing-eye-ponies References: [portlandafoot.org](http://portlandafoot.org/w/Animals_on_TriMet) & [guidehorse.org](http://www.guidehorse.org) Miniature horses (a.k.a. seeing-eye ponies) have joined [seeing-eye dogs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/petbarn) as officially-recognized service animals in the United States and may soon be riding buses and trains with their owners in Portland, Oregon. New rules adopted by Tri-Met, Portland, Oregon's transit authority, will allow seeing-eye ponies on its trains and buses so long as the animals meet the standards for assistance animals. While the owners of seeing-eye ponies cannot be questioned and don't have to prove that their animals are service animals, the ponies must be tethered and must conduct themselves appropriately while riding Portland's [public transportation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/complimentary-public-transportation). Seeing-eye ponies are used by people with disabilities as guide animals. They live nearly twice as long as a dog and they have a wider field of vision because their eyes are on the sides of their heads, but that hasn't been enough to allow them on [public transit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/passenger-assistance-web) until now. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 39% | Activity: 88% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Expanding Acceptance of Service Animals:** The recognition of seeing-eye ponies as service animals and their acceptance on public transit in Portland points to a growing trend of expanding the definition of service animals beyond traditional options. - **Increasing Role of Miniature Horses:** The inclusion of miniature horses as seeing-eye animals highlights a trend towards utilizing different animal species for assisting individuals with disabilities. - **Accessibility in Public Transportation:** The adoption of new rules by Tri-Met to allow seeing-eye ponies on buses and trains reflects a trend towards making public transportation more accessible for individuals with disabilities. ### Where This Applies - **Service Animal Training and Certification:** The rise in the acceptance of seeing-eye ponies as service animals creates opportunities for innovative training and certification programs tailored for miniature horses. - **Animal-assisted Therapy:** The role of miniature horses in assisting individuals with disabilities opens up potential avenues for expanding animal-assisted therapy interventions and methods. - **Public Transportation and Accessibility Solutions:** The inclusion of seeing-eye ponies on public transit in Portland prompts the development of innovative accessibility solutions and infrastructure enhancements for the transportation industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Pet Owner E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pony-bike.md) - [Pedicab Shuttle Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/go-by-bike.md) - [Publicly Owned Train Operators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accessibility-roadmap.md) - [Student-Focused Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle Rides](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheelchairaccessible-vehicle-rides.md) - [Functioning Robotaxi Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotaxi-services.md) - [Airport Dog Training Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/assistance-dogs1.md) - [Pet-Friendly Rideshare Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pet-rides.md) - [Accessible Train Upgrades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/journey-beyond-rail.md) - [Accessible E-Scooter Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accessible-e-scooter-service.md)