Connemaras are strong and sturdy with a short back and sloped, muscular croup. The hindquarters are powerful. The shoulder is sloped and long. Their legs have short, strong cannons and hard feet and a good stride length. The breed has a fine head with small ears and usually a slightly dished profile set on a well-arched neck. The Connemara is considered hardy and agile, with good jumping ability. The Connemara has a lively but eager and trainable temperament, tends to be long-lived and is described as intelligent. They are hardy and are excellent mounts for children.
Connemaras in North America range from 13 to 15 hands (52 to 60inches, 132 to 152cm). Recognized colors are gray, bay, brown (genetically, a darker variant of bay), and dun, with some roans, an occasional black, chestnut, or palomino. Pinto patterns, called piebald and skewbald by the Connemara registry, are not acceptable for registration.