Two brown miniature donkeys standing in the snow. — Photo: pmarkham (Flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Miniature Donkey

Equus asinus (miniature breed)

A naturally small, gentle donkey from the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

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About the Miniature Donkey

Miniature donkeys are no more than 36 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 200 to 450 pounds. Their small size is natural, not bred down from larger donkeys. They come from the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia and were first brought to the United States in 1929. Donkeys have large heads, long ears and cow-like tails. They graze on plants, grabbing them with their lips.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Equus asinus (miniature breed)^[1]
Size: No more than 36 inches tall at the shoulder.^[1]
Weight: 200 to 450 pounds.^[1]
Lifespan: Often into their 30s; average about 33 years.^[1]
Diet: Herbivore. Grasses, hay and other plants.^[1]
Habitat: Farms and pastures.^[1]
Where it lives: Originally Sicily and Sardinia; now kept in many countries.^[1]
Group life: Herds.^[1]
Babies: One foal after about 12 months, weighing 18 to 25 pounds.^[1]
Conservation status: Domestic breed. Not assessed by the IUCN.^[1]

Fun facts

Each donkey has its own style of 'hee-haw.'^[1]
Male donkeys are called jacks, and females are called jennets.^[1]
The word donkey may come from dun, a grayish-brown color.^[1]

Vocabulary

breed: A group of domestic animals with a certain look, developed by people.
domesticated: Tamed and raised by people over many generations.
bray: The loud 'hee-haw' sound a donkey makes.
foal: A baby horse or donkey.
herbivore: An animal that eats only plants.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Kids' FarmSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Miniature donkey.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/miniature-donkey (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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