diff --git a/docs/source/python/extending_types.rst b/docs/source/python/extending_types.rst
index b9e875ceebc74..ee92cebcb549c 100644
--- a/docs/source/python/extending_types.rst
+++ b/docs/source/python/extending_types.rst
@@ -68,34 +68,43 @@ message).
 See the :ref:`format_metadata_extension_types` section of the metadata
 specification for more details.
 
-Pyarrow allows you to define such extension types from Python.
-
-There are currently two ways:
-
-* Subclassing :class:`PyExtensionType`: the (de)serialization is based on pickle.
-  This is a good option for an extension type that is only used from Python.
-* Subclassing :class:`ExtensionType`: this allows to give a custom
-  Python-independent name and serialized metadata, that can potentially be
-  recognized by other (non-Python) Arrow implementations such as PySpark.
+Pyarrow allows you to define such extension types from Python by subclassing
+:class:`ExtensionType` and giving the derived class its own extension name
+and serialization mechanism. The extension name and serialized metadata
+can potentially be recognized by other (non-Python) Arrow implementations
+such as PySpark.
 
 For example, we could define a custom UUID type for 128-bit numbers which can
-be represented as ``FixedSizeBinary`` type with 16 bytes.
-Using the first approach, we create a ``UuidType`` subclass, and implement the
-``__reduce__`` method to ensure the class can be properly pickled::
+be represented as ``FixedSizeBinary`` type with 16 bytes::
 
-    class UuidType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+    class UuidType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
         def __init__(self):
-            pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.binary(16))
+            super().__init__(pa.binary(16), "my_package.uuid")
+
+        def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+            # Since we don't have a parameterized type, we don't need extra
+            # metadata to be deserialized
+            return b''
 
-        def __reduce__(self):
-            return UuidType, ()
+        @classmethod
+        def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+            # Sanity checks, not required but illustrate the method signature.
+            assert storage_type == pa.binary(16)
+            assert serialized == b''
+            # Return an instance of this subclass given the serialized
+            # metadata.
+            return UuidType()
+
+The special methods ``__arrow_ext_serialize__`` and ``__arrow_ext_deserialize__``
+define the serialization of an extension type instance. For non-parametric
+types such as the above, the serialization payload can be left empty.
 
 This can now be used to create arrays and tables holding the extension type::
 
     >>> uuid_type = UuidType()
     >>> uuid_type.extension_name
-    'arrow.py_extension_type'
+    'my_package.uuid'
     >>> uuid_type.storage_type
     FixedSizeBinaryType(fixed_size_binary[16])
 
@@ -112,8 +121,11 @@ This can now be used to create arrays and tables holding the extension type::
     ]
 
 This array can be included in RecordBatches, sent over IPC and received in
-another Python process. The custom UUID type will be preserved there, as long
-as the definition of the class is available (the type can be unpickled).
+another Python process. The receiving process must explicitly register the
+extension type for deserialization, otherwise it will fall back to the
+storage type::
+
+    >>> pa.register_extension_type(UuidType())
 
 For example, creating a RecordBatch and writing it to a stream using the
 IPC protocol::
@@ -129,43 +141,12 @@ and then reading it back yields the proper type::
     >>> with pa.ipc.open_stream(buf) as reader:
     ...    result = reader.read_all()
     >>> result.column('ext').type
-    UuidType(extension<arrow.py_extension_type>)
-
-We can define the same type using the other option::
-
-    class UuidType(pa.ExtensionType):
-
-        def __init__(self):
-            pa.ExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.binary(16), "my_package.uuid")
-
-        def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
-            # since we don't have a parameterized type, we don't need extra
-            # metadata to be deserialized
-            return b''
-
-        @classmethod
-        def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(self, storage_type, serialized):
-            # return an instance of this subclass given the serialized
-            # metadata.
-            return UuidType()
-
-This is a slightly longer implementation (you need to implement the special
-methods ``__arrow_ext_serialize__`` and ``__arrow_ext_deserialize__``), and the
-extension type needs to be registered to be received through IPC (using
-:func:`register_extension_type`), but it has
-now a unique name::
-
-    >>> uuid_type = UuidType()
-    >>> uuid_type.extension_name
-    'my_package.uuid'
-
-    >>> pa.register_extension_type(uuid_type)
+    UuidType(FixedSizeBinaryType(fixed_size_binary[16]))
 
 The receiving application doesn't need to be Python but can still recognize
-the extension type as a "uuid" type, if it has implemented its own extension
-type to receive it.
-If the type is not registered in the receiving application, it will fall back
-to the storage type.
+the extension type as a "my_package.uuid" type, if it has implemented its own
+extension type to receive it. If the type is not registered in the receiving
+application, it will fall back to the storage type.
 
 Parameterized extension type
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@@ -187,7 +168,7 @@ of the given frequency since 1970.
             # attributes need to be set first before calling
             # super init (as that calls serialize)
             self._freq = freq
-            pa.ExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.int64(), 'my_package.period')
+            super().__init__(pa.int64(), 'my_package.period')
 
         @property
         def freq(self):
@@ -198,7 +179,7 @@ of the given frequency since 1970.
 
         @classmethod
         def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
-            # return an instance of this subclass given the serialized
+            # Return an instance of this subclass given the serialized
             # metadata.
             serialized = serialized.decode()
             assert serialized.startswith("freq=")
@@ -209,31 +190,10 @@ Here, we ensure to store all information in the serialized metadata that is
 needed to reconstruct the instance (in the ``__arrow_ext_deserialize__`` class
 method), in this case the frequency string.
 
-Note that, once created, the data type instance is considered immutable. If,
-in the example above, the ``freq`` parameter would change after instantiation,
-the reconstruction of the type instance after IPC will be incorrect.
+Note that, once created, the data type instance is considered immutable.
 In the example above, the ``freq`` parameter is therefore stored in a private
 attribute with a public read-only property to access it.
 
-Parameterized extension types are also possible using the pickle-based type
-subclassing :class:`PyExtensionType`. The equivalent example for the period
-data type from above would look like::
-
-    class PeriodType(pa.PyExtensionType):
-
-        def __init__(self, freq):
-            self._freq = freq
-            pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.int64())
-
-        @property
-        def freq(self):
-            return self._freq
-
-        def __reduce__(self):
-            return PeriodType, (self.freq,)
-
-Also the storage type does not need to be fixed but can be parameterized.
-
 Custom extension array class
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
@@ -252,12 +212,16 @@ the data as a 2-D Numpy array ``(N, 3)`` without any copy::
             return self.storage.flatten().to_numpy().reshape((-1, 3))
 
 
-    class Point3DType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+    class Point3DType(pa.ExtensionType):
         def __init__(self):
-            pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.list_(pa.float32(), 3))
+            super().__init__(pa.list_(pa.float32(), 3), "my_package.Point3DType")
 
-        def __reduce__(self):
-            return Point3DType, ()
+        def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+            return b''
+
+        @classmethod
+        def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+            return Point3DType()
 
         def __arrow_ext_class__(self):
             return Point3DArray
@@ -289,11 +253,8 @@ The additional methods in the extension class are then available to the user::
 
 
 This array can be sent over IPC, received in another Python process, and the custom
-extension array class will be preserved (as long as the definitions of the classes above
-are available).
-
-The same ``__arrow_ext_class__`` specialization can be used with custom types defined
-by subclassing :class:`ExtensionType`.
+extension array class will be preserved (as long as the receiving process registers
+the extension type using :func:`register_extension_type` before reading the IPC data).
 
 Custom scalar conversion
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@@ -304,18 +265,24 @@ If you want scalars of your custom extension type to convert to a custom type wh
 For example, if we wanted the above example 3D point type to return a custom
 3D point class instead of a list, we would implement::
 
+    from collections import namedtuple
+
     Point3D = namedtuple("Point3D", ["x", "y", "z"])
 
     class Point3DScalar(pa.ExtensionScalar):
         def as_py(self) -> Point3D:
             return Point3D(*self.value.as_py())
 
-    class Point3DType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+    class Point3DType(pa.ExtensionType):
         def __init__(self):
-            pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.list_(pa.float32(), 3))
+            super().__init__(pa.list_(pa.float32(), 3), "my_package.Point3DType")
 
-        def __reduce__(self):
-            return Point3DType, ()
+        def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+            return b''
+
+        @classmethod
+        def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+            return Point3DType()
 
         def __arrow_ext_scalar_class__(self):
             return Point3DScalar
diff --git a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_cffi.py b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_cffi.py
index 55bab4359bffc..a9c17cc100cb4 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_cffi.py
+++ b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_cffi.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+import contextlib
 import ctypes
 import gc
 
@@ -51,18 +52,33 @@ def PyCapsule_IsValid(capsule, name):
     return ctypes.pythonapi.PyCapsule_IsValid(ctypes.py_object(capsule), name) == 1
 
 
-class ParamExtType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def registered_extension_type(ext_type):
+    pa.register_extension_type(ext_type)
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        pa.unregister_extension_type(ext_type.extension_name)
+
+
+class ParamExtType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self, width):
         self._width = width
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.binary(width))
+        super().__init__(pa.binary(width),
+                         "pyarrow.tests.test_cffi.ParamExtType")
 
     @property
     def width(self):
         return self._width
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return ParamExtType, (self.width,)
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return str(self.width).encode()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        width = int(serialized.decode())
+        return cls(width)
 
 
 def make_schema():
@@ -75,6 +91,12 @@ def make_extension_schema():
                      metadata={b'key1': b'value1'})
 
 
+def make_extension_storage_schema():
+    # Should be kept in sync with make_extension_schema
+    return pa.schema([('ext', ParamExtType(3).storage_type)],
+                     metadata={b'key1': b'value1'})
+
+
 def make_batch():
     return pa.record_batch([[[1], [2, 42]]], make_schema())
 
@@ -204,7 +226,10 @@ def test_export_import_array():
         pa.Array._import_from_c(ptr_array, ptr_schema)
 
 
-def check_export_import_schema(schema_factory):
+def check_export_import_schema(schema_factory, expected_schema_factory=None):
+    if expected_schema_factory is None:
+        expected_schema_factory = schema_factory
+
     c_schema = ffi.new("struct ArrowSchema*")
     ptr_schema = int(ffi.cast("uintptr_t", c_schema))
 
@@ -215,7 +240,7 @@ def check_export_import_schema(schema_factory):
     assert pa.total_allocated_bytes() > old_allocated
     # Delete and recreate C++ object from exported pointer
     schema_new = pa.Schema._import_from_c(ptr_schema)
-    assert schema_new == schema_factory()
+    assert schema_new == expected_schema_factory()
     assert pa.total_allocated_bytes() == old_allocated
     del schema_new
     assert pa.total_allocated_bytes() == old_allocated
@@ -240,7 +265,13 @@ def test_export_import_schema():
 
 @needs_cffi
 def test_export_import_schema_with_extension():
-    check_export_import_schema(make_extension_schema)
+    # Extension type is unregistered => the storage type is imported
+    check_export_import_schema(make_extension_schema,
+                               make_extension_storage_schema)
+
+    # Extension type is registered => the extension type is imported
+    with registered_extension_type(ParamExtType(1)):
+        check_export_import_schema(make_extension_schema)
 
 
 @needs_cffi
@@ -319,7 +350,8 @@ def test_export_import_batch():
 
 @needs_cffi
 def test_export_import_batch_with_extension():
-    check_export_import_batch(make_extension_batch)
+    with registered_extension_type(ParamExtType(1)):
+        check_export_import_batch(make_extension_batch)
 
 
 def _export_import_batch_reader(ptr_stream, reader_factory):
diff --git a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_extension_type.py b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_extension_type.py
index ce575d984e41c..a88e20eefe098 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_extension_type.py
+++ b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_extension_type.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+import contextlib
 import os
 import shutil
 import subprocess
@@ -29,31 +30,69 @@
 import pytest
 
 
-class TinyIntType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def registered_extension_type(ext_type):
+    pa.register_extension_type(ext_type)
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        pa.unregister_extension_type(ext_type.extension_name)
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def enabled_auto_load():
+    pa.PyExtensionType.set_auto_load(True)
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        pa.PyExtensionType.set_auto_load(False)
+
+
+class TinyIntType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.int8())
+        super().__init__(pa.int8(), 'pyarrow.tests.TinyIntType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return TinyIntType, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        assert serialized == b''
+        assert storage_type == pa.int8()
+        return cls()
 
 
-class IntegerType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class IntegerType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.int64())
+        super().__init__(pa.int64(), 'pyarrow.tests.IntegerType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return IntegerType, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        assert serialized == b''
+        assert storage_type == pa.int64()
+        return cls()
 
 
-class IntegerEmbeddedType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class IntegerEmbeddedType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, IntegerType())
+        super().__init__(IntegerType(), 'pyarrow.tests.IntegerType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return IntegerEmbeddedType, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        # XXX pa.BaseExtensionType should expose C++ serialization method
+        return self.storage_type.__arrow_ext_serialize__()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        deserialized_storage_type = storage_type.__arrow_ext_deserialize__(
+            serialized)
+        assert deserialized_storage_type == storage_type
+        return cls()
 
 
 class UuidScalarType(pa.ExtensionScalar):
@@ -61,81 +100,125 @@ def as_py(self):
         return None if self.value is None else UUID(bytes=self.value.as_py())
 
 
-class UuidType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class UuidType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.binary(16))
-
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return UuidType, ()
+        super().__init__(pa.binary(16), 'pyarrow.tests.UuidType')
 
     def __arrow_ext_scalar_class__(self):
         return UuidScalarType
 
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
 
-class UuidType2(pa.PyExtensionType):
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        return cls()
+
+
+class UuidType2(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.binary(16))
+        super().__init__(pa.binary(16), 'pyarrow.tests.UuidType2')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return UuidType2, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        return cls()
 
 
-class LabelType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class LabelType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.string())
+        super().__init__(pa.string(), 'pyarrow.tests.LabelType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return LabelType, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        return cls()
 
 
-class ParamExtType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class ParamExtType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self, width):
         self._width = width
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.binary(width))
+        super().__init__(pa.binary(width), 'pyarrow.tests.ParamExtType')
 
     @property
     def width(self):
         return self._width
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return ParamExtType, (self.width,)
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return str(self._width).encode()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        width = int(serialized.decode())
+        assert storage_type == pa.binary(width)
+        return cls(width)
 
 
-class MyStructType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class MyStructType(pa.ExtensionType):
     storage_type = pa.struct([('left', pa.int64()),
                               ('right', pa.int64())])
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, self.storage_type)
+        super().__init__(self.storage_type, 'pyarrow.tests.MyStructType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return MyStructType, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
 
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        assert serialized == b''
+        assert storage_type == cls.storage_type
+        return cls()
 
-class MyListType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+
+class MyListType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self, storage_type):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, storage_type)
+        assert isinstance(storage_type, pa.ListType)
+        super().__init__(storage_type, 'pyarrow.tests.MyListType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return MyListType, (self.storage_type,)
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        assert serialized == b''
+        return cls(storage_type)
 
 
-class AnnotatedType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class AnnotatedType(pa.ExtensionType):
     """
     Generic extension type that can store any storage type.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, storage_type, annotation):
         self.annotation = annotation
-        super().__init__(storage_type)
+        super().__init__(storage_type, 'pyarrow.tests.AnnotatedType')
+
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        assert serialized == b''
+        return cls(storage_type)
+
+
+class LegacyIntType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.int8())
 
     def __reduce__(self):
-        return AnnotatedType, (self.storage_type, self.annotation)
+        return LegacyIntType, ()
 
 
 def ipc_write_batch(batch):
@@ -153,12 +236,12 @@ def ipc_read_batch(buf):
 
 def test_ext_type_basics():
     ty = UuidType()
-    assert ty.extension_name == "arrow.py_extension_type"
+    assert ty.extension_name == "pyarrow.tests.UuidType"
 
 
 def test_ext_type_str():
     ty = IntegerType()
-    expected = "extension<arrow.py_extension_type<IntegerType>>"
+    expected = "extension<pyarrow.tests.IntegerType<IntegerType>>"
     assert str(ty) == expected
     assert pa.DataType.__str__(ty) == expected
 
@@ -223,7 +306,7 @@ def test_uuid_type_pickle(pickle_module):
         del ty
         ty = pickle_module.loads(ser)
         wr = weakref.ref(ty)
-        assert ty.extension_name == "arrow.py_extension_type"
+        assert ty.extension_name == "pyarrow.tests.UuidType"
         del ty
         assert wr() is None
 
@@ -571,9 +654,9 @@ def test_cast_between_extension_types():
     assert tiny_int_arr.type == TinyIntType()
 
     # Casting between extension types w/ different storage types not okay.
-    msg = ("Casting from 'extension<arrow.py_extension_type<TinyIntType>>' "
+    msg = ("Casting from 'extension<.*?<TinyIntType>>' "
            "to different extension type "
-           "'extension<arrow.py_extension_type<IntegerType>>' not permitted. "
+           "'extension<.*?<IntegerType>>' not permitted. "
            "One can first cast to the storage type, "
            "then to the extension type."
            )
@@ -660,53 +743,38 @@ def example_batch():
     return pa.RecordBatch.from_arrays([arr], ["exts"])
 
 
-def check_example_batch(batch):
+def check_example_batch(batch, *, expect_extension):
     arr = batch.column(0)
-    assert isinstance(arr, pa.ExtensionArray)
-    assert arr.type.storage_type == pa.binary(3)
-    assert arr.storage.to_pylist() == [b"foo", b"bar"]
+    if expect_extension:
+        assert isinstance(arr, pa.ExtensionArray)
+        assert arr.type.storage_type == pa.binary(3)
+        assert arr.storage.to_pylist() == [b"foo", b"bar"]
+    else:
+        assert arr.type == pa.binary(3)
+        assert arr.to_pylist() == [b"foo", b"bar"]
     return arr
 
 
-def test_ipc():
+def test_ipc_unregistered():
     batch = example_batch()
     buf = ipc_write_batch(batch)
     del batch
 
     batch = ipc_read_batch(buf)
-    arr = check_example_batch(batch)
-    assert arr.type == ParamExtType(3)
+    batch.validate(full=True)
+    check_example_batch(batch, expect_extension=False)
 
 
-def test_ipc_unknown_type():
-    batch = example_batch()
-    buf = ipc_write_batch(batch)
-    del batch
-
-    orig_type = ParamExtType
-    try:
-        # Simulate the original Python type being unavailable.
-        # Deserialization should not fail but return a placeholder type.
-        del globals()['ParamExtType']
+def test_ipc_registered():
+    with registered_extension_type(ParamExtType(1)):
+        batch = example_batch()
+        buf = ipc_write_batch(batch)
+        del batch
 
         batch = ipc_read_batch(buf)
-        arr = check_example_batch(batch)
-        assert isinstance(arr.type, pa.UnknownExtensionType)
-
-        # Can be serialized again
-        buf2 = ipc_write_batch(batch)
-        del batch, arr
-
-        batch = ipc_read_batch(buf2)
-        arr = check_example_batch(batch)
-        assert isinstance(arr.type, pa.UnknownExtensionType)
-    finally:
-        globals()['ParamExtType'] = orig_type
-
-    # Deserialize again with the type restored
-    batch = ipc_read_batch(buf2)
-    arr = check_example_batch(batch)
-    assert arr.type == ParamExtType(3)
+        batch.validate(full=True)
+        arr = check_example_batch(batch, expect_extension=True)
+        assert arr.type == ParamExtType(3)
 
 
 class PeriodArray(pa.ExtensionArray):
@@ -930,6 +998,7 @@ def test_parquet_period(tmpdir, registered_period_type):
 
     # When reading in, properly create extension type if it is registered
     result = pq.read_table(filename)
+    result.validate(full=True)
     assert result.schema.field("ext").type == period_type
     assert result.schema.field("ext").metadata == {}
     # Get the exact array class defined by the registered type.
@@ -939,6 +1008,7 @@ def test_parquet_period(tmpdir, registered_period_type):
     # When the type is not registered, read in as storage type
     pa.unregister_extension_type(period_type.extension_name)
     result = pq.read_table(filename)
+    result.validate(full=True)
     assert result.schema.field("ext").type == pa.int64()
     # The extension metadata is present for roundtripping.
     assert result.schema.field("ext").metadata == {
@@ -967,13 +1037,28 @@ def test_parquet_extension_with_nested_storage(tmpdir):
     filename = tmpdir / 'nested_extension_storage.parquet'
     pq.write_table(orig_table, filename)
 
+    # Unregistered
     table = pq.read_table(filename)
-    assert table.column('structs').type == mystruct_array.type
-    assert table.column('lists').type == mylist_array.type
-    assert table == orig_table
-
-    with pytest.raises(pa.ArrowInvalid, match='without all of its fields'):
-        pq.ParquetFile(filename).read(columns=['structs.left'])
+    table.validate(full=True)
+    assert table.column('structs').type == struct_array.type
+    assert table.column('structs').combine_chunks() == struct_array
+    assert table.column('lists').type == list_array.type
+    assert table.column('lists').combine_chunks() == list_array
+
+    # Registered
+    with registered_extension_type(mystruct_array.type):
+        with registered_extension_type(mylist_array.type):
+            table = pq.read_table(filename)
+            table.validate(full=True)
+            assert table.column('structs').type == mystruct_array.type
+            assert table.column('lists').type == mylist_array.type
+            assert table == orig_table
+
+            # Cannot select a subfield of an extension type with
+            # a struct storage type.
+            with pytest.raises(pa.ArrowInvalid,
+                               match='without all of its fields'):
+                pq.ParquetFile(filename).read(columns=['structs.left'])
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parquet
@@ -995,8 +1080,14 @@ def test_parquet_nested_extension(tmpdir):
     pq.write_table(orig_table, filename)
 
     table = pq.read_table(filename)
-    assert table.column(0).type == struct_array.type
-    assert table == orig_table
+    table.validate(full=True)
+    assert table.column(0).type == pa.struct({'ints': pa.int64(),
+                                              'exts': pa.int64()})
+    with registered_extension_type(ext_type):
+        table = pq.read_table(filename)
+        table.validate(full=True)
+        assert table.column(0).type == struct_array.type
+        assert table == orig_table
 
     # List of extensions
     list_array = pa.ListArray.from_arrays([0, 1, None, 3], ext_array)
@@ -1006,8 +1097,13 @@ def test_parquet_nested_extension(tmpdir):
     pq.write_table(orig_table, filename)
 
     table = pq.read_table(filename)
-    assert table.column(0).type == list_array.type
-    assert table == orig_table
+    table.validate(full=True)
+    assert table.column(0).type == pa.list_(pa.int64())
+    with registered_extension_type(ext_type):
+        table = pq.read_table(filename)
+        table.validate(full=True)
+        assert table.column(0).type == list_array.type
+        assert table == orig_table
 
     # Large list of extensions
     list_array = pa.LargeListArray.from_arrays([0, 1, None, 3], ext_array)
@@ -1017,8 +1113,13 @@ def test_parquet_nested_extension(tmpdir):
     pq.write_table(orig_table, filename)
 
     table = pq.read_table(filename)
-    assert table.column(0).type == list_array.type
-    assert table == orig_table
+    table.validate(full=True)
+    assert table.column(0).type == pa.large_list(pa.int64())
+    with registered_extension_type(ext_type):
+        table = pq.read_table(filename)
+        table.validate(full=True)
+        assert table.column(0).type == list_array.type
+        assert table == orig_table
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parquet
@@ -1040,8 +1141,12 @@ def test_parquet_extension_nested_in_extension(tmpdir):
     pq.write_table(orig_table, filename)
 
     table = pq.read_table(filename)
-    assert table.column(0).type == mylist_array.type
-    assert table == orig_table
+    assert table.column(0).type == pa.list_(pa.int64())
+    with registered_extension_type(mylist_array.type):
+        with registered_extension_type(inner_ext_array.type):
+            table = pq.read_table(filename)
+            assert table.column(0).type == mylist_array.type
+            assert table == orig_table
 
 
 def test_to_numpy():
@@ -1370,3 +1475,25 @@ def test_tensor_type_is_picklable(pickle_module):
 def test_tensor_type_str(tensor_type, text):
     tensor_type_str = tensor_type.__str__()
     assert text in tensor_type_str
+
+
+def test_legacy_int_type():
+    with pytest.warns(FutureWarning, match="PyExtensionType is deprecated"):
+        ext_ty = LegacyIntType()
+    arr = pa.array([1, 2, 3], type=ext_ty.storage_type)
+    ext_arr = pa.ExtensionArray.from_storage(ext_ty, arr)
+    batch = pa.RecordBatch.from_arrays([ext_arr], names=['ext'])
+    buf = ipc_write_batch(batch)
+
+    with pytest.warns(
+            RuntimeWarning,
+            match="pickle-based deserialization of pyarrow.PyExtensionType "
+                  "subclasses is disabled by default"):
+        batch = ipc_read_batch(buf)
+        assert isinstance(batch.column(0).type, pa.UnknownExtensionType)
+
+    with enabled_auto_load():
+        with pytest.warns(FutureWarning, match="PyExtensionType is deprecated"):
+            batch = ipc_read_batch(buf)
+            assert isinstance(batch.column(0).type, LegacyIntType)
+            assert batch.column(0) == ext_arr
diff --git a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_pandas.py b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_pandas.py
index 62a9443953a3d..10eb931592093 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_pandas.py
+++ b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_pandas.py
@@ -4096,13 +4096,20 @@ def test_array_protocol():
     assert result.equals(expected2)
 
 
-class DummyExtensionType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class DummyExtensionType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.int64())
+        super().__init__(pa.int64(),
+                         'pyarrow.tests.test_pandas.DummyExtensionType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return DummyExtensionType, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        assert serialized == b''
+        assert storage_type == pa.int64()
+        return cls()
 
 
 def PandasArray__arrow_array__(self, type=None):
@@ -4198,13 +4205,14 @@ def test_convert_to_extension_array(monkeypatch):
     assert not isinstance(_get_mgr(result).blocks[0], _int.ExtensionBlock)
 
 
-class MyCustomIntegerType(pa.PyExtensionType):
+class MyCustomIntegerType(pa.ExtensionType):
 
     def __init__(self):
-        pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.int64())
+        super().__init__(pa.int64(),
+                         'pyarrow.tests.test_pandas.MyCustomIntegerType')
 
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return MyCustomIntegerType, ()
+    def __arrow_ext_serialize__(self):
+        return b''
 
     def to_pandas_dtype(self):
         return pd.Int64Dtype()
diff --git a/python/pyarrow/types.pxi b/python/pyarrow/types.pxi
index d394b803e7fc2..a0ddf09d69423 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/types.pxi
+++ b/python/pyarrow/types.pxi
@@ -1437,7 +1437,10 @@ cdef class ExtensionType(BaseExtensionType):
     Parameters
     ----------
     storage_type : DataType
+        The underlying storage type for the extension type.
     extension_name : str
+        A unique name distinguishing this extension type. The name will be
+        used when deserializing IPC data.
 
     Examples
     --------
@@ -1671,60 +1674,22 @@ cdef class FixedShapeTensorType(BaseExtensionType):
                                     self.dim_names, self.permutation)
 
 
+_py_extension_type_auto_load = False
+
+
 cdef class PyExtensionType(ExtensionType):
     """
     Concrete base class for Python-defined extension types based on pickle
     for (de)serialization.
 
+    .. warning::
+       This class is deprecated and its deserialization is disabled by default.
+       :class:`ExtensionType` is recommended instead.
+
     Parameters
     ----------
     storage_type : DataType
         The storage type for which the extension is built.
-
-    Examples
-    --------
-    Define a UuidType extension type subclassing PyExtensionType:
-
-    >>> import pyarrow as pa
-    >>> class UuidType(pa.PyExtensionType):
-    ...     def __init__(self):
-    ...         pa.PyExtensionType.__init__(self, pa.binary(16))
-    ...     def __reduce__(self):
-    ...         return UuidType, ()
-    ...
-
-    Create an instance of UuidType extension type:
-
-    >>> uuid_type = UuidType() # doctest: +SKIP
-    >>> uuid_type # doctest: +SKIP
-    UuidType(FixedSizeBinaryType(fixed_size_binary[16]))
-
-    Inspect the extension type:
-
-    >>> uuid_type.extension_name # doctest: +SKIP
-    'arrow.py_extension_type'
-    >>> uuid_type.storage_type # doctest: +SKIP
-    FixedSizeBinaryType(fixed_size_binary[16])
-
-    Wrap an array as an extension array:
-
-    >>> import uuid
-    >>> storage_array = pa.array([uuid.uuid4().bytes for _ in range(4)],
-    ...                          pa.binary(16)) # doctest: +SKIP
-    >>> uuid_type.wrap_array(storage_array) # doctest: +SKIP
-    <pyarrow.lib.ExtensionArray object at ...>
-    [
-      ...
-    ]
-
-    Or do the same with creating an ExtensionArray:
-
-    >>> pa.ExtensionArray.from_storage(uuid_type,
-    ...                                storage_array) # doctest: +SKIP
-    <pyarrow.lib.ExtensionArray object at ...>
-    [
-      ...
-    ]
     """
 
     def __cinit__(self):
@@ -1733,6 +1698,12 @@ cdef class PyExtensionType(ExtensionType):
                             "PyExtensionType")
 
     def __init__(self, DataType storage_type):
+        warnings.warn(
+            "pyarrow.PyExtensionType is deprecated "
+            "and will refuse deserialization by default. "
+            "Instead, please derive from pyarrow.ExtensionType and implement "
+            "your own serialization mechanism.",
+            FutureWarning)
         ExtensionType.__init__(self, storage_type, "arrow.py_extension_type")
 
     def __reduce__(self):
@@ -1744,6 +1715,17 @@ cdef class PyExtensionType(ExtensionType):
 
     @classmethod
     def __arrow_ext_deserialize__(cls, storage_type, serialized):
+        if not _py_extension_type_auto_load:
+            warnings.warn(
+                "pickle-based deserialization of pyarrow.PyExtensionType subclasses "
+                "is disabled by default; if you only ingest "
+                "trusted data files, you may re-enable this using "
+                "`pyarrow.PyExtensionType.set_auto_load(True)`.\n"
+                "In the future, Python-defined extension subclasses should "
+                "derive from pyarrow.ExtensionType (not pyarrow.PyExtensionType) "
+                "and implement their own serialization mechanism.\n",
+                RuntimeWarning)
+            return UnknownExtensionType(storage_type, serialized)
         try:
             ty = pickle.loads(serialized)
         except Exception:
@@ -1759,6 +1741,22 @@ cdef class PyExtensionType(ExtensionType):
                             .format(ty.storage_type, storage_type))
         return ty
 
+    # XXX Cython marks extension types as immutable, so cannot expose this
+    # as a writable class attribute.
+    @classmethod
+    def set_auto_load(cls, value):
+        """
+        Enable or disable auto-loading of serialized PyExtensionType instances.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        value : bool
+            Whether to enable auto-loading.
+        """
+        global _py_extension_type_auto_load
+        assert isinstance(value, bool)
+        _py_extension_type_auto_load = value
+
 
 cdef class UnknownExtensionType(PyExtensionType):
     """