Pony Express opened at Knott’s Berry Farm on May 22, 2008, becoming the first Zamperla Moto Coaster built in the United States. Tucked into the park’s Ghost Town section, the $9 million ride reimagines the historic mail-delivery service of the same name, putting riders atop horse-shaped saddle seats instead of traditional coaster cars.
Rather than a chain lift, Pony Express relies on a flywheel-and-clutch launch system that catches a cable attached to the train and fires it from 0 to 38 mph in about three seconds. From there, riders lean through 1,300 feet of banked turns and camelback hills while catching glimpses of Boot Hill and Calico River Rapids along the way.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Knott’s Berry Farm
- Manufacturer: Zamperla
- Opened: May 22, 2008
- Height: 44 ft
- Top speed: 38 mph
- Length: 1,300 ft
- Inversions: 0
- Duration: 36 seconds
The Ride Experience
Each of Pony Express’s horse-shaped seats puts riders in a straddled, saddle-style position rather than a seated one, with an automated restraint pressing against the lower back while leaving the upper body free to move. That setup, paired with the flywheel launch, gives the ride a galloping sensation as it rockets riders onto the course at 38 mph in roughly three seconds.
After the launch, the layout stays low and fast, winding through banked turns and camelback hills across its 1,300-foot track. The ride lasts about 36 seconds from launch to brakes, with two trains carrying 16 riders each keeping the line moving at up to 900 riders per hour.
Theming and History
Pony Express sits in the Ghost Town section of Knott’s Berry Farm, themed around the real 19th-century mail service that used relay riders on horseback to carry letters across the American West. The ride was built to replace the Wilderness Scrambler and gave the park’s Old West area a modern thrill-ride anchor.
The attraction made headlines on October 7, 2010, when a train failed to clear the first hill during Knott’s Scary Farm, rolled backward into the station, and collided with a stationary train, injuring ten people with no major injuries reported. The ride reopened within days and has continued operating since, carrying a park-rated thrill level of four out of five.
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Pony Express FAQs
Who manufactures Pony Express at Knott’s Berry Farm?
Pony Express was built by Zamperla, an Italian ride manufacturer based in Vicenza. It was the first Zamperla Moto Coaster constructed in the United States.
How fast does Pony Express go?
The ride launches riders from 0 to 38 mph in about three seconds using a flywheel-and-clutch launch system, rather than a traditional chain lift.
Does Pony Express have any loops or inversions?
No. Pony Express has zero inversions. It’s a launched motorbike-style coaster focused on speed and banked turns rather than loops.
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Photo: Madzia Bryll / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.