Question
Are pansys and polyanthus perennials or annuals.

Answer
Viola x wittrockiana -- 'Pansies' -- are members of the Violaceae family; technically, they are hardy BIENNIALS, but they are almost always treated as annuals.

Primula x polyanthus -- 'Polyanthus' -- is a hybrid cross between Primula veris ('Cowslips'), Primula vulgaris ('English Primroses') and Primula elatior ('Oxslips').  They are members of the Primulaceae Family and considered herbaceous PERENNIALS.  Gardeners have been growing Polyanthus since the 1600s.  Photographer John Fischer posts this shot of Primulas on the About.com Philadelphia/South Jersey Longwood Gardens Welcome Spring Festival guide:

philadelphia.about.com/od/photo_galleries/ig/longwood_welcome_spring/longwood_winter_051.htm Photo by John FischerLongwood

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER