Pony Cars v Muscle Cars: What is the difference?

[Rollo75]

Highbank (via Shoutbox) I keep telling you people that Mustangs and Camaros are NOT Muscle Cars, they are Pony Cars... - 5th May 2021

I am more confused than ever.

The Mustang is obviously the trope namer, and Wikipedia calls Pony Cars - compact, highly styled coupés or convertibles with a "sporty" or performance-oriented image - of which the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger, are the triple.
Does this mean that a Nissan GTR, Toyota Supra, or BMW M4 is a Pony Car?

Wikipedia then called Muscle Cars - an intermediate sized car fitted with a large displacement V8 engine.
It then goes on to mention the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger.


I'm confused.

Let's further confuse things.

Ford Falcon, was the platform that Mustang was spun off. Is that a Pony Car? If it got a 302 Windsor, 351 Cleveland, or a Coyote, does that make a difference? How about the fact that the Falcon was a four-door sedan, wagon, ute, and coupe in the same generation?
How about a 350 Monaro? Or a 308 Torana? 305 Commodore? LS3 Commodore?
What is a Torana GTR-XU1 with a 202 in-line 6? Is that a Pony Car?

I'm more confused than ever. Edumacate me.

 

[The_Tigg]

Camaro's and Mustangs are pony cars of years gone by.

Anything not made in the US is an import.

Muscle cars are big, huge in fact with more power then a 16 inch tire could hold. Chargers, Torino's and GTO's to name a few.

@Rollo75, my man, remember we're Americans here, if it ain't big and loud it ain't muscle

 

[Cola83]

I think my favorite has to be a Chevy Chevelle SS, with a 396 Big Block w/ Headers, full racing cam, Edelbrock aluminum intake, Holley double pumper carburetor, dual points, etc, etc.... This is a Great Muscle Car.