Founded by veteran tattoo artist Zane Watrous, the shop grew from a desire for artistic independence and authentic expression. After spending 11 years honing his craft in parlors across the region, Watrous decided it was time to establish a space that reflected his own creative vision.
“I was always working at other people’s shops and they never quite aligned with my creative vision,” Watrous said. “I wanted something that paired with my tattoos and my artwork.”
The shop’s name reflects that Western ethos, combining ideas from the Wild West and the historic Pony Express.
From Party Flash to Professional Craft
Watrous’ journey into tattooing began shortly after high school. By age 17, he knew tattooing was his path, drawn to the freedom, independence and visual artistry of traditional tattoo flash.
“The outlaw source of income, the freedom, the art are the things that drew me to it,” Watrous recalled. He began by studying tattoo history and painting classic flash sheets before completing his first tattoo at age 18 during a party. He has not looked back since.
Choosing St. George as the home for Wild Pony Tattoo was an easy decision for Watrous, who considers the city his lifelong home.
“I’ve always loved the desert, the cacti, the cliffs and the wildlife. It’s simply just home,” he said. Having tattooed in St. George on and off for 15 years, along with attending school and playing in local bands, Watrous established deep community ties long before opening his doors.
While St. George hosts numerous tattoo parlors, Watrous recognized a distinct void: none specialized exclusively in traditional street shop tattooing.
American Traditional Meets Southwestern Heritage
Wild Pony Tattoo specializes in American Traditional tattooing while also drawing inspiration from European traditional and classic Japanese styles. The shop is particularly known for its Western, Southwestern and desert inspired motifs.
Rather than relying on widely circulated internet designs, the shop’s hallmark is its collection of custom, hand drawn tattoo flash created specifically for clients to choose from.
“My favorites to tattoo are the things that I closely relate to: roadrunners, desert scenes, cowboys, cacti, wildlife, fly fishing stuff,” Watrous said. “In most cases, people can find designs on our walls that are unique and meaningful to them.”
A Community Gathering Place
Beyond ink and needle, Watrous has cultivated a relaxed, community focused atmosphere inside the shop. Clients, locals and travelers regularly stop in simply to converse and connect.
“We’ve created an environment where you’ll have a conversation about fly fishing happening across the room from another conversation about truck build outs, next to a talk about different rifles, with something being said about taxidermy in the back,” Watrous explained. “We attract types of people that are either adventurous or seeking adventure.”
Looking toward the future, Watrous envisions Wild Pony Tattoo becoming a lasting regional institution.
“I plan on keeping Wild Pony going as long as possible,” Watrous said. “I fantasize about it being a shop where people go, ‘Oh yeah, my parents got tattooed there and so do I.’ Someone’s gotta keep the spirit of the West alive, as well as the spirit of traditional tattooing.”
