Prepare yourself for a cuteness overload! These four dwarf animals are, potentially, the smallest and cutest animals in the entire world. Why do people get so emotional about miniature animals? Let's find out!

From tiny ponies to tiny bunnies, and baby turtles to teacup piggies, there are many small little creatures out there.

While it is true that there are smaller animals than these dwarf varieties, mini animals are incredibly popular and incredibly adorable. So get ready for the "Aw!" factor.

So which dwarf and miniature animals are so small that they set records? TAG24 is here with four of the smallest dwarf animals in the world.

Dwarf animals, miniature pets, and other mini creatures are all tiny for a reason. Now, that reason differs between these animals that fulfill separate purposes. Many tiny animals have been bred to become this small, either so that we can swoon over their cuteness, or so that they can perform a particular task.

One example of a tiny animal that has been bred small for a reason is the humble Dachshund. These tiny pups were bred to hunt small rodents that live underground. As a result, they needed to be made short, with strong paws, a powerful nose, and a personality of persistence.

There are a vast assortment of reasons why certain animals are small and others are large. In the case of these dwarf animals, they are small breeds of bigger animals that are generally much more voluminous! Perhaps that smallness is for aesthetic reasons, or perhaps it's to fulfill a task.

All the animals in this list are small for a reason, whether that be evolutionarily or man-made. We are not including tiny animals like microbes, bacteria, or jellyfish (in other words, creatures that are usually small), but small animals or "mini" animals that resemble tiny versions of a family of bigger animals.

In other words, small rabbits, small pigs, small goats, and some of the smallest ponies in the world.

Is there anything cuter than taking a traditionally small and adorable animal and just simply making it even more tiny? Dwarf rabbits are an absolute killer at pet shops, making a healthy rodent-based alternative to Guinea pigs and hamsters. They take up less space, look cuddly, and make everyone happy.

When it comes to their soft fur, their big blob heads, and their cute cunning eyes, dwarf bunnies are the perfect gift for a child that wants a little friend that won't bite. They're smaller and rounder, and in many cases fluffier and friendlier!

There are goats in the world that, even when fully-grown, will only stand 15–20 inches tall.

The west African dwarf goats are usually referred to as mini goats, and despite their name, originate from Asia. Unsurprisingly, they are referred to as "West African" due to their human-induced abundance on the African continent via breeding and zookeepers.

Its curiosity and stubbornness makes the West African dwarf goat incredibly troublesome to keep as a pet, especially when you consider their keen jumping abilities.

Dogs Hilarity ensues after woman gets a second dog: "you just end up getting judged twice as much"

Let's be real, you're going to need a fence 2–3 times its height to corral these little guys.

Horses are known to be big beasts, and ponies are known to be their smaller cousins.

Not this small, though!

The Shetland pony comes in at only 25–35 inches in height, and is an insanely small animal. It is certain that these little dudes are the smallest horse-like animals in the world, and are incredibly popular among fans of small horse breeds.

As small horse-like animals, donkeys might be unpopular, but ponies are some of the most popular animals in the world.

Shetland ponies are fan favorites, and are particularly famous among children, families, and horse lovers world-wide.

Mini teacup pigs are some of the cutest, smallest, and sweetest creatures in the world.

So small that they could fit in your purse, these creatures take their name from their size - about as large as a teacup. What's important to note, though, is that while they are that small at birth, they do grow as they age.

That being said, teacup pigs will never get as big as their larger brothers and sisters. A fully grown teacup piggy will only reach your knee and will only weigh around 100 pounds.

It was only a few decades ago that these little mammals were the talk of the town. Nowadays, though, they are sadly not as popular as they once were.

While there are far smaller animals out there setting animal records, these creatures are tiny in a different way. Miniature and dwarf animals have been bred to be this small, and in some cases, to be bought and treated as pets by those of us who want a tiny, adorable little friend.

These tiny dwarf animals don't take up much space, but they take up a lot of our hearts. They can, in many cases, make wonderful pets, and are worthy of a nice warm hug when you get home from a long day's work.