How is Ponyboy good in The Outsiders?

Ponyboy is a good person because he is kind to others and willing to look at things from their point of view.  He helps rescue the kids in the fire.  He also supports his friends when they fight in the rumble.

When Pony meets two Soc girls, Cherry and Marcia, he does not judge them.  He stands up for Dally, who is hassling them, but he also recognizes why the girls have a problem with him.  More importantly, he is able to see things from Cherry’s point of view and realize that the Socs do not have perfect lives.

"I'll tell you something, Ponyboy, and it may come as a surprise. We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?"

She looked me straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over."

"I believe you," I said. (Ch. 2, p. 47)

Pony’s reaction to Cherry shows that he is a good person because he actually stops to think about what the Socs’ lives might be like.  He finds it interesting that Cherry sees the same sunset as he does.  It makes him understand that the two groups have things in common.

Another good deed Pony does is help the kids at the fire.  He and Johnny go hide out in a church after Johnny kills Bob in the fight in the park.  Pony acknowledges that Johnny is smarter and deeper than he thought.  He shares a poem with him, and they read Gone with the Wind.  Pony and Johnny both try to save the children who get caught in the fire, along with Dally.

The woman went white. "I told them not to play in the church... I told them..."

She looked like she was going to start screaming, so Jerry shook her.

"I'll get them, don't worry!" I started at a dead run for the church… (Ch. 6, p. 95) 

Pony thinks that he and Johnny started the fire.  He feels terrible, and he is desperate to get the missing kids out.  He doesn’t think anything of himself.  Pony’s injuries are not as serious as Johnny’s, and he is very worried about his friend. 

When the greasers have a rumble with the Socs about Johnny and Bob, it is very important to Pony that he be there.  He is injured, and yet he still wants to fight.  He doesn’t like fighting, but he just wants to be there to support his friends.  Before the rumble he talks with Bob's friend Randy, who says he isn’t going.  Pony is sympathetic to him, telling him he would help him if he could.  Pony would rather avoid a rumble too.

I was thinking about the rumble. I had a sick feeling in my stomach and it wasn't from being ill. It was the same kind of helplessness I'd felt that night Darry yelled at me for going to sleep in the lot. I had the same deathly fear that something was going to happen that none of us could stop. (Ch. 8, p. 131)

Pony participates, excited when the greasers win.  He is just happy that no one was seriously hurt and he was able to help somewhat.  All that Pony wants is to support his friends.