According to data supplied to the FAO, the average height of females is 1.29 m, that of males 1.31 m.[1] It is a working pony.
The head is short and broad, the body of moderate size and solid, rounded conformation.
[3] Genetic studies have determined that this breed belongs to the Qinghai and Tibetan Plateau horse group, of which the Chaidamu is a member along with the Hequ, Datong and Yushu.
[4][5] One study focused on Y chromosome variations, demonstrating that Chaidamu belongs to haplotype A, the most common in native Chinese horses.
[1] The breed is considered threatened in China,[9] but according to the FAO's 2007 assessment, the horse is not in danger of extinction.