diff --git a/ormar/fields/foreign_key.py b/ormar/fields/foreign_key.py
index efddbe9..98e97ba 100644
--- a/ormar/fields/foreign_key.py
+++ b/ormar/fields/foreign_key.py
@@ -3,13 +3,12 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Any, List, Optional, TYPE_CHECKING, Tuple, Type, Union
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel, create_model
-from pydantic.typing import evaluate_forwardref
+from pydantic.typing import ForwardRef, evaluate_forwardref
 from sqlalchemy import UniqueConstraint
 
 import ormar  # noqa I101
 from ormar.exceptions import RelationshipInstanceError
 from ormar.fields.base import BaseField
-from ormar.protocols.forward_ref import ForwardRef
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma no cover
     from ormar.models import Model, NewBaseModel
@@ -170,13 +169,16 @@ def ForeignKey(  # noqa CFQ002
     owner = kwargs.pop("owner", None)
     self_reference = kwargs.pop("self_reference", False)
 
-    if isinstance(to, ForwardRef):
+    if to.__class__ == ForwardRef:
         __type__ = to if not nullable else Optional[to]
         constraints: List = []
         column_type = None
     else:
         __type__, constraints, column_type = populate_fk_params_based_on_to_model(
-            to=to, nullable=nullable, ondelete=ondelete, onupdate=onupdate
+            to=to,  # type: ignore
+            nullable=nullable,
+            ondelete=ondelete,
+            onupdate=onupdate,
         )
 
     namespace = dict(
@@ -250,8 +252,12 @@ class ForeignKeyField(BaseField):
         :return: None
         :rtype: None
         """
-        if isinstance(cls.to, ForwardRef):
-            cls.to = evaluate_forwardref(cls.to, globalns, localns or None)
+        if cls.to.__class__ == ForwardRef:
+            cls.to = evaluate_forwardref(
+                cls.to,  # type: ignore
+                globalns,
+                localns or None,
+            )
             (
                 cls.__type__,
                 cls.constraints,
@@ -398,7 +404,7 @@ class ForeignKeyField(BaseField):
         :return: result of the check
         :rtype: bool
         """
-        return isinstance(cls.to, ForwardRef)
+        return cls.to.__class__ == ForwardRef
 
     @classmethod
     def expand_relationship(
diff --git a/ormar/fields/many_to_many.py b/ormar/fields/many_to_many.py
index 75e84bd..a596b52 100644
--- a/ormar/fields/many_to_many.py
+++ b/ormar/fields/many_to_many.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 from typing import Any, List, Optional, TYPE_CHECKING, Tuple, Type, Union
 
-from pydantic.typing import evaluate_forwardref
+from pydantic.typing import ForwardRef, evaluate_forwardref
 import ormar  # noqa: I100
 from ormar.fields import BaseField
 from ormar.fields.foreign_key import ForeignKeyField
-from ormar.protocols.forward_ref import ForwardRef
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma no cover
     from ormar.models import Model
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ def ManyToMany(
     owner = kwargs.pop("owner", None)
     self_reference = kwargs.pop("self_reference", False)
 
-    if isinstance(to, ForwardRef):
+    if to.__class__ == ForwardRef:
         __type__ = to if not nullable else Optional[to]
         column_type = None
     else:
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ class ManyToManyField(ForeignKeyField, ormar.QuerySetProtocol, ormar.RelationPro
         :return: result of the check
         :rtype: bool
         """
-        return isinstance(cls.to, ForwardRef) or isinstance(cls.through, ForwardRef)
+        return cls.to.__class__ == ForwardRef or cls.through.__class__ == ForwardRef
 
     @classmethod
     def evaluate_forward_ref(cls, globalns: Any, localns: Any) -> None:
@@ -165,8 +164,12 @@ class ManyToManyField(ForeignKeyField, ormar.QuerySetProtocol, ormar.RelationPro
         :return: None
         :rtype: None
         """
-        if isinstance(cls.to, ForwardRef) or isinstance(cls.through, ForwardRef):
-            cls.to = evaluate_forwardref(cls.to, globalns, localns or None)
+        if cls.to.__class__ == ForwardRef or cls.through.__class__ == ForwardRef:
+            cls.to = evaluate_forwardref(
+                cls.to,  # type: ignore
+                globalns,
+                localns or None,
+            )
             (cls.__type__, cls.column_type,) = populate_m2m_params_based_on_to_model(
                 to=cls.to, nullable=cls.nullable,
             )
diff --git a/ormar/models/helpers/models.py b/ormar/models/helpers/models.py
index feaa3cf..50ea481 100644
--- a/ormar/models/helpers/models.py
+++ b/ormar/models/helpers/models.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from typing import Dict, List, Optional, TYPE_CHECKING, Tuple, Type
 import ormar  # noqa: I100
 from ormar.fields.foreign_key import ForeignKeyField
 from ormar.models.helpers.pydantic import populate_pydantic_default_values
-from ormar.protocols.forward_ref import ForwardRef
+from pydantic.typing import ForwardRef
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma no cover
     from ormar import Model
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def is_field_an_forward_ref(field: Type["BaseField"]) -> bool:
     :rtype: bool
     """
     return issubclass(field, ForeignKeyField) and (
-        isinstance(field.to, ForwardRef) or isinstance(field.through, ForwardRef)
+        field.to.__class__ == ForwardRef or field.through.__class__ == ForwardRef
     )
 
 
diff --git a/ormar/protocols/forward_ref.py b/ormar/protocols/forward_ref.py
deleted file mode 100644
index d03429f..0000000
--- a/ormar/protocols/forward_ref.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-import sys
-from typing import Any, TYPE_CHECKING
-
-if sys.version_info < (3, 7):  # pragma: no cover
-    if TYPE_CHECKING:
-
-        class ForwardRef:
-
-            _gorg = None
-
-            def __init__(self, args: Any) -> None:
-                pass
-
-            def _eval_type(self, globalns: Any, localns: Any) -> Any:
-                pass
-
-    else:
-        from typing import _ForwardRef as ForwardRef
-else:
-    from typing import ForwardRef
-
-ForwardRef = ForwardRef