Who has a great relationship with Ponyboy in S. E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders?

Ponyboy has several deep relationships in S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders. Ponyboy is very intelligent; because of this, his older brothers assume a protective attitude towards him. In particular, however, Ponyboy is extremely close with his middle brother, Sodapop. Sodapop is known for supporting Ponyboy and caring deeply about him.
While their eldest brother, Darry, acts as a father-figure, Soda is extremely caring and diligent with Ponyboy, encouraging his intellectual pursuits in an attempt to keep him from becoming too deeply entrenched in the "Greaser" lifestyle, in which they're all wrapped up. Ponyboy even says at one point that he loves Sodapop more than he had ever loved their parents.
Ponyboy eventually grows closer to Darry throughout the novel and has a close relationship with Johnny for a while when they run away together. None of these friendships, however, are as close as the relationship he has with Sodapop.

Ponyboy is the protagonist of the novel The Outsiders and shares a very close relationship with his brother, Sodapop. Sodapop is a fun-loving, easy-going sixteen-year-old who treats Ponyboy with respect and compassion. Soda constantly makes Ponyboy smile, and Pony admires his brother for his good looks and positive attitude. Sodapop is always quick to come to Ponyboy's aid and defends him when Darry begins to argue and yell at Ponyboy. In Chapter 1, Ponyboy says, "Soda always takes up for me" (Hinton 12). Ponyboy also appreciates that Soda doesn't treat him like a child the way that Darry does. Although Ponyboy bellieves Soda will never grow up and is embarrassed Soda dropped out of school, Pony believes Soda is the only person who truly understands him. Ponyboy goes on to say, "I love Soda more than I've ever loved anyone, even Mom and Dad" (Hinton 3). At the end of The Outsiders, Sodapop finally addresses Darry and Pony's controversial relationship, allowing the brothers to become even closer than they were before. Without Sodapop's support and positive attitude, Ponyboy would not be able to live in the same home as Darry.