A developmental process, independent of morphogenetic (shape) change, that is required for the pons to attain its fully functional state. The pons lies above the medulla and next to the cerebellum. The pons conveys information about movement from the cerebral hemisphere to the cerebellum. [ GOC:cls http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/go/references/0000021 GOC:dph GOC:jid GOC:dgh http://openisbn.com/search.php?q=0838580343&isbn=1/ ]