Catalyzes the condensation of pantoate with beta-alanine in an ATP-dependent reaction via a pantoyl-adenylate intermediate. (R)-pantoate + ATP + beta-alanine = (R)-pantothenate + AMP + diphosphate + H(+) Cofactor biosynthesis; (R)-pantothenate biosynthesis; (R)-pantothenate from (R)-pantoate and beta-alanine: step 1/1. Homodimer. The reaction proceeds by a bi uni uni bi ping pong mechanism. PDB 1UFV apparently has a Val-49-Ala mutation. Belongs to the pantothenate synthetase family.