What is what does ponyboy mean?

Ponyboy is the protagonist and narrator of the novel "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. Ponyboy is a 14-year-old boy who belongs to a gang of Greasers, a group of boys from the wrong side of the tracks, who constantly battle their privileged rivals, the Socs. Ponyboy's name is symbolic of his innocence and vulnerability, like a young pony, and his place in the gang. He struggles to come to terms with the death of his parents and the harsh reality of life, and he ultimately learns valuable lessons about the importance of family, friendship, and identity.