While not explicit, the character Dot Tattler (connected to Bette) has fantasy sequences where she is dressed as a pink pony girl in a childlike room. These scenes create dissonance between her adult desire for autonomy and the patronizing, controlling environment of the freak show. The horror is psychological—being treated as a performative animal.
Dofantasy has long been a haven for artists who refuse to draw safe content. Their "Horror" line specifically exploits the tension between elegance and disgust. A typical page from a Pony Girl Horror comic by XXX-COMICS features hyper-detailed, almost classical linework contrasting with brutal subject matter. XXX-COMICS - dofantasy - Pony Girl Horror
Consider the seminal one-shot “Mare of the Mire.” The protagonist wakes up in a Victorian-era bog, fitted with a perpetual gag and a saddle embedded with glass. The antagonist is not a man, but a "Groom"—a faceless entity made of straw and mud. The horror is cyclical: the pony girl runs through the forest, but the forest is made of whips. She jumps a hurdle, but the hurdle is made of bone. Title: "Moonlit Terror: A Pony Girl Horror Story"
This is where XXX-COMICS excels. They utilize the comic panel as a "training ring." Repetitive frames show the pony girl performing the same humiliating gait over and over, while subtle details in the background (a rotting apple, a collapsing barn) signal the world is ending around her. Consider the seminal one-shot “Mare of the Mire
The story begins with a young artist, Alex, moving to Willowdale in search of inspiration. Drawn by the town's mystical reputation, Alex is especially intrigued by the tales of Lunaria. One night, while exploring the forest under the full moon, Alex stumbles upon Lunaria. To their surprise, instead of fleeing, Lunaria approaches them. She presents Alex with a magical comic book, inviting them to illustrate her story.