"Pony" is a song by American singer Ginuwine, released as the debut single from his first album, Ginuwine...The Bachelor (1996). Ginuwine sung, co-wrote, and produced the song with Swing Mob associates Static Major, Digital Black, Smoke E. Digglera, and Timbaland; the latter made his breakthrough as a producer with the song. It peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the BillboardHot R&B Singles chart.
Timbaland, the song's producer, revealed in a MasterClass lecture that the song's instrumental was created in 1989, and that the song was written and recorded in 1994, two years prior to its release.
"Pony" was met with critical acclaim. Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "This sex jam, played out through horse-riding metaphors, is an even-metered gallop through lovely backing vocals and machine-generated music." He added, "While lead vocal elements are indistinguishable from several similar jams receiving heavy play, "Ginuwine" makes up for it with endearing style and funk. Added vocals run though a synthesizer provide a unique supplemental element to the baseline and act as an interesting refrain."[1] The song received an A− from Matt Diehl for Entertainment Weekly, who said that its "irresistible funk grooves lope at an easy gait, seducing the listener with a velvety tenor and belching synthesizer hook".[2] Tony Farsides from Music Week's RM Dance Update rated it five out of five, picking it as Tune of the Week. He noted that "given the downtempo mania that's dominated R&B in recent years, it's refreshing to hear a solid uptempo track instead. [...] All in all, a great track and hopefully a deserving hit as well."[3]
The song peaked at number one on the BillboardHot R&B Singles chart for two weeks from November 16, 1996, to November 30, 1996,[4] and reached number six on Billboard's Hot 100 on November 23, 1996.[5] Internationally, the song reached number three in Australia, peaked at number five in New Zealand, and charted within the top 40 in several European countries.
The official music video for the album version of the song, directed by Michael Lucero and filmed at the Cowboy Palace saloon in Chatsworth, California,[6] depicts Ginuwine and his crew entering a Western bar as strangers and gradually gaining the favor of the cowboy-patrons. The music video for the remix version of the song (the "Ride It" mix) was directed by Christopher Erskin and shot in a factory.[7]
Along with his concurrent work for Aaliyah's One in a Million album, "Pony" and Ginuwine...the Bachelor marked the emergence of Timbaland as a successful R&B producer.[8] The song experienced a resurgence in popularity after being featured in the 2012 film Magic Mike, its 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL, and its 2023 sequel Magic Mike's Last Dance.[9][10][11][12] On November 2, 2019, the song was featured in the sketch "Hungry Jury" on Saturday Night Live.[13]
In 2021, the duo Altégo posted a snippet of a mashup of "Pony" and Britney Spears's "Toxic" on TikTok, that quickly went viral. In January 2022, the mashup was completed and officially released through Sony Music Entertainment under the title "Toxic Pony", being credited to Altégo, Spears and Ginuwine.[14] The mashup reached number 40 on the BillboardPop Airplay chart.[15]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^Farsides, Tony (December 14, 1996). "Hot Vinyl"(PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
^Pony (Australian CD single liner notes). Ginuwine. 550 Music. 1996. 36K78373.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Pony (US & Australian cassette single sleeve). Ginuwine. 550 Music. 1996. 36T 78373.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Pony (European CD single liner notes). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 663927 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Pony (UK CD single liner notes). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 664128 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Pony (UK cassette single sleeve). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 664128 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Pony (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Ginuwine. 550 Music, Epic Records. 1997. 664128 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
