Pony Breeds

A Pony is a certain kind of small horse that is under 14.2 hands. However, some equine breeds are not considered to be a pony, even if they are under 14.2 hands. It should be noted that miniature horses are not the same as a pony. For show purposes, a pony are grouped into small, medium, and large sizes.

PONY OF THE AMERICAS
Use : Saddle. Height : 11.2 - 13.2 hh. Colours : Appaloosa colours and patterns. Identifying Features : Neat head, good shoulders, deep chest, short back, rounded body, short legs with solid hindquarters. In 1954 Leslie Boomhower crossed a Shetland stallion with a Appaloosa mare, the result was a small pony with an Appaloosa marking that was called Black Hand. Later there were outcrosses to Arab and Quarter Horses, and breed standard calls for a pony with the appearance of a miniature Quarter Horse Arab cross.

ARIEGEOIS PONY
Use : Riding, harness. Height : 13.1 - 14.3 hh. Colours : Black. Identifying Features : Light head, upright neck, shoulders, flat wothers, long back, short legs, hard feet, coarse thick mane and tail. Also known as the Cheval de Merens. Hardy and tough, copes well on rough mountain trackes. The pony Existed in its native Pyrenees and Ariegeois mountain region since prehistoric times. breeders started taking an interest in the pony around 1908. Was bred to work in the mines of southwestern France and to haul timber.

PONY AVELIGNESE
Use : Draught, saddle. Height : 13.3 - 14.3 hh. Colours : Chestnut with flaxen mane and tail. Identifying Features : Small head, crested neck, strong shoulders, well muscled deep chest, broad long back, short strong legs. Bred in Northern Italy. The Avelignese Pony is an Italian version of the Haflinger. Placid and robust. This pony's ancestry is found in El Bedair. These pony's are used as draft horses, and as a packhorse. They are a mountain horse and hardy. These animals are invaluable on farms, because they are too big.

BALI PONY
The Bali pony is an ancient breed now living on the Indonesian island of Bali. Its roots are unknown, although one theory is that ponies of ancient stock were brought from to Indonesia by the Chinese in the 6th century. Use : Pack. Height : 12 - 13 hh. Colours : Dun with dark points and dorsal stripe. Identifying Features : Light frame, short neck, slender legs, hard feet. Tough horse that can live in a harsh climate. Their strength has also made them a popular mount for trekking and sightseeing tourists.

BASHKIR PONY
Use : Pack, milk, draught. Height : 14 hh. Colours : Chestnut, bay, dun. Identifying Features : Heavy head, thick neck, flat back, low withers, upright shoulders, good girth, short legs. Came from the southern foothills of the Ural mountains of Russia in ancient times. Capable of work under the most harsh climatic conditions. Acclaimed to be the only hypoallergenic horse breed; most people allergic to horses can handle.

BASUTO PONY
The Basuto pony was developed from the Cape Horse in Lesotho (Basutoland) in the 18th and 19th centuries. Use : Saddle. Height : 14.2 hh. Colours : Chestnut, bay, brown, grey. Identifying Features : Neat head, long neck, straight shoulders, long back, short legs, hard feet. A very tough, brave pony that is used for trekking or sometimes polo. The Basuto pony has a natural affection and affinity for people.

BATAK PONY
The Batak Pony is an Indonesian breed. Originating in Central Sumatra, it is thought to have descended from Mongolian Horse and Arabian blood, and has continually been infused with Arabian blood throughout the century to improve its quality. Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 13 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying features : Light frame, straight back, slim legs. The Batak is a very willing breed, and is very hardy. Used as the core stock in Indonesia to upgrade other pony breeds. The Batak was once used as sacrificial animals for the gods.

CONNEMARA PONY
Some believe that the Connemara is from the Scandinavian ponies that the Vikings first brought to Ireland. Use : Saddle. Height : 13 - 14.2 hh. Colours : Mostly grey, but also black, brown, dun, bay. Identifying Features : Good head, medium length neck, sloping shoulders, compact body, strong legs. Irelands only indigenous pony. They excel in all sport horse competition, including dressage, show jumping, eventing, and driving. Names for the county of Connemara in the far West of Ireland. Due to the fact that the Connemara is hardy and is possessed with tremendous agility as well as jumping prowess, the Connemara has been identified as the world's leading sports pony.

DALES PONY
The Dales Pony is a small horse breed native to the eastern Pennines of northern England. They have great stamina and were used as a pack animal. Use : Riding, farm work, trekking. Height : 13.2 - 14.2 hh. Colours : Black, dark bay or brown. Identifying Features : Neat head, strong neck, deep strong shoulders, deep girth, short back, short legs. Probably descends from the Friesians brought to Britain by the Romans 2,000 years ago. The Dales have great stamina and a calm temperament. The Dales Pony developed form the native Pennine Pony, and was greatly influenced by the now-extinct Scottish Galloway, which improved their speed and sure-footedness. They were also infused with Friesian blood. The ponies were originally bred as pack animals, to carry heavy loads of lead through the countryside from Northumberland and Durham to smelt mills.

DARTMOOR PONY
The artmoor pony roams wild in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, in the United Kingdom. It is closely related to the Exmoor Pony. Use : Saddle. Height : 12.2 hh. Colours : Brown, bay, black. Identifying Features : Small head, strong neck, shoulders set back, strong quarters, slim hard legs, full mane and tail, hard feet. The Dartmoor roamed free in Dartmoor, England for 1,000 years. The Dartmoor is a good riding pony with smooth action. Because of the extreme weather conditions experienced on the moors, the Dartmoor is a particularly hardy breed with excellent stamina. Over the centuries it has been used as a working animal by local tin miners and quarry workers.

DULMEN PONY
The Dulmen is the only native pony breed in Germany, now that the Senner pony of the Teutoburg Forest is extinct. Use : Feral. Height : 12.3 hh. Colours : Dun, black, brown. Identifying Features : Plain head, short neck, compact body, short legs. Found in Westphalia region of Germany. Is Germany`s only existing native pony. The Dulmen was found near the town of Duelmen, in the Merfelder Bruch area where ponies have been documented since the early 1300s. It is believed that the Dulmen developed for primitive types, as it still has some primitive characteristics.

EXMOOR PONY
The Exmoor Pony is the oldest and most primitive of the British native ponies, as well as the purest, and some herds still roam free in the moors of southwest England. Use : Riding, cross breeding. Height : 12.2 - 12.3 hh. Colours : Bay, brown, dun. Identifying Features : Small head, thick neck, deep chest, short legs, good bone, hard feet, Exmoors have a seventh molar not present in other breeds. The Exmoor is the oldest native British breed. In the cold, wet winters the Exmoor grows a double coat, with a soft, wooly undercoat and a longer, oily, water-repellant outer coat. Its ancestors are unknown.



FALABELLA
Use : Pet, miniature carriage horse. Height : Up to 7 hh. All solid and part colours. Identifying features : Upright shoulders, flat withers, fine legs, heads may be large. The Falabella is the worlds smallest horse. The Falabella is a well proportioned pony that resembles the Thoroughbred and the Arab. The miniature horse has a sleek coat and a slim frame. Developed by the Falabella family in Argentina using only the smallest of Shetlands crossed with Thoroughbreds. The Falabella horses can only be ridden by very small and light children. They are easily trained and will enjoy the attention deserved.

FELL PONY
The Fell Pony is a versatile, working breed of mountain and moorland pony which originates from the North of England. Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 13 - 14 hh. Colours : Black, brown, bay, grey. Identifying Features : Small head, long neck, sloping shoulders, compact body, muscled quarters, strong legs, hard feet. Descended from the Friesians and brought to England by the Romans. The Fell is extremely strong. The Fell Pony has a free and easy stride. As a hack and general riding pony, the Fell's fast walk and easy paces make it a pleasant and comfortable ride, and its sure footedness ensures a safe passage over the roughest country.

FJORD PONY
The Fjord Pony is one of the oldest breeds of equids. Use : Pack, harness, saddle. Height : 13 - 14 hh. Colours : Dun. Identifying features : Small head, thick neck, broad chest, flat withers, powerful rounded body, short legs. The Fjord pony has a thick coat so that it can endure rough winters with minimal care. Paintings and carvings of horses looking like the Fjord can be found dating back to the Viking times in Norway.

GALICENO HORSE
The Galiceno is quick, athletic, brave, willing, and quick- to-learn, making them very easy to train. They have good stamina, and have a fast running-walk gait, which is very smooth and comfortable to ride. Their stride is ground-covering. They are very strong, able to carry a man all day in heat and over rough terrain, despite their small size and are considered small horses Use : Saddle, Harness. Height : 12 - 14 hh. Colours : All solid colours. Identifying Features : Narrow compact body, upright shoulders, neat head on a slender neck with short back and slim legs. The Galiceno ultimately descended from the Iberian Sorraia and Garranos. Has been a recognized breed since 1958.

GOTLAND PONY
A Swedish pony breed. Its Swedish name, Gotlandsruss, comes from word "Ross" meaning a mount or a war horse. Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 12 - 12.2 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Small head, short neck, long back, sloping quarters, short legs, low set tail,, hard feet. Scandanavia`s oldest pony breed. Lived on the Swedish island of Gotland for years. Is an ideal riding pony with a gentle nature. First pedigree-book for Gotland ponies was opened in Sweden in 1943. To improve the breed two Wales pony stallions have been accepted in it: Reber General and Criban Daniel. The pedigree was closed in 1971 after which only registered Gotland ponies have been accepted in it.

HAFLINGER PONY
The history of the Haflinger horse can be traced to medieval times when writings told of an Oriental race of horse found in the Southern Tyrolean Mountains which were once part of Austria, but now belong to Northern Italy. The first official documentation of the present day Haflinger (named after the South-Tyrolean village of Hafling) was in 1874 when the foundation stallion 249 Folie was born of the half-Arab stallion 133 El' Bedavi XXII crossed with a refined native Tyrolean mare. All modern purebred Haflingers must trace their ancestry directly to Folie through seven different stallion lines: A, B, M, N, S, ST, and W. Use : Riding, harness, draught, forestry. Height : 13 - 14 hh. Colours : Palomino or chestnut with flaxen mane and tail. Identifying Features : Good head, arched neck, good girth, strong legs with short cannons. Haflinger is the sturdy mountain pony of the Austrian Tirol. Said to be able to work until the age of 40.

HIGHLAND PONY
A native British pony, and is the largest of Britain’s 9 native breeds. Its pedigree dates back to the 1880s. It was once a workhorse in the Scottish mainland and islands, but today is used for trekking and general riding. Use : Saddle, pack, harness. Height : 14.2 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Small head, muscular neck, solid deep body, short strong legs. The Highland is the strongest and largest of Britains native breeds. It is often used from trekking to pack work. The Highland is sensitive and intelligent. The breed was originally bred to work on the small farms of Scotland, hauling timber and game as well as ploughing. They are still used for such work, but are usually enjoyed as all-round ponies, good for jumping and trekking, due to their quietness, stamina, and ability to carry weight.

HOKKAIDO PONY
The Hokkaido horse is thought to have been brought during the Edo era (1600-1867) to Hokkaido by fishermen. These original importation came from Honshu. Use : Saddle, pack. Colours : All colours. Height : 13 hh. Identifying Features : Plain head, thickset body, flat withers, slender legs, good feet. The Hokkaido is found in the northern island of Hokkaido in Japan. As in other Japanese breeds, the Hokkaido is found in most solid colors, and many are roan. White markings of any kind are rare and not allowed for registration.

HUCUL PONY
The Hucul/Carpathian is a breed of draft horse, originally from the Carpathian Mountains. This heavy horse possess great endurance and hardiness. Use : Harness, pack. Height : 12.1 - 13 hh. Colours : Dun, piebald, bay, skewbald. Identifying Features : Short blunt head, short neck, flat withers, upright shoulders, compact body, short legs, sound feet. Native of the Carpathian Mountains of Poland. Renowned for it`s ability to carry heavy loads. The Hucul is arguably the most direct descendant of the Eurasian wild horse Tarpan (now extinct). It is named after the small ethnic group of Hutsuls.

ICELANDIC PONY
The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse that has lived in Iceland since the mid-800s, having been brought to the island by Viking settlers. The Icelandic Horse is a man-made breed as it is a mixture of breeds and cross-breeds which were taken from Scandinavian and European countries to Iceland during the original and subsequent settlements. Use : Farming, racing, transport. Height : 12.3 - 13.2 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Heavy head, strong short neck, compact powerful body, upright shoulders, short strong legs, sound feet. Introduced to Iceland by the Vikings around 860 A.D.

JAVA PONY
The Java Pony is also often called the Kumingan Pony. Use : Harness, saddle. Height : 12.2 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Small head, slight build, light legs. Despite their scrawny appearance the Java Pony is able to pull heavy taxi carts through the streets of Javanese towns. An interesting fact is that the Java pony is often ridden with a wooden saddle that has quite extraordinary stirrups.

KAZAKH PONY
The Kazakh Pony breed is an ancient breed of working pony from Kazakhstan. Use : Saddle, pack, meat. Height : 13.1 - 14.1 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Plain thick set body, short legs, hard feet. Sad to say, these days the Kazakh pony in mainly bred for meat. This pony has two sub-types: The Dzhabe and the Adaev. The Kazakh Pony can be of any colour.



KISO PONY
Use : Draught, harness. Height : 13 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Large head, flat withers, upright shoulders, short body, good feet. Found in the mountain areas in the central part of Japan. Mostly used as a farm horse.

KONIK PONY
The konik is a small Polish horse, a kind of semi-wild pony. In Poland these horses are called koniks, this word comes from the Polish diminutive for a horse, but refers to several breeds. Use : Harness, light draught. Height : 12 - 13 hh. Colours : Usually dun with dorsal stripe. Identifying Features : Large head, short strong neck, low withers, upright shoulders, broad body, deep girth, strong legs. Konik is a Polish word meaning "small horse". Is the utility horse of the lowland farms of Poland.

LANDAIS PONY
Use : Riding. Height : 11.3 - 13.1 hh. Colours : Bay, brown, chestnut, black. Identifying Features : Neat head, thickset neck, prominent withers, straight back, muscled legs, thick mane, high set tail. The Landais is one of three pony breeds that is native to France. Has a good temperament and is widely used by children. They get on well with people and have a natural friendly attitude and are easily trained.

MANIPURI PONY
The Manipuri Pony is thought to have been derived from ancient stock, as a cross between the Mongolian Wild Horse and the Arabian. The original purpose of the ponies was as mounts for the Manipur calvalry, which was respected and feared throughout upper Burma during the 17th century. The breed was used in the army throughout World War II, as transport animals to take the British 14th Army into Burma in 1945. Use : Saddle. Height : 11 - 13 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying features : Long head, broad muzzle, deep chest, broad body, short legs. The original polo pony, from Manipur in India where Polo was invented 1,300 years ago.

MONGOLIAN PONY
The Mongolian horse is the favorite animal of the Mongols. The traditionally living nomads still hold more than 3 million animals, outnumbering the country's human inhabitants. Use : Saddle, pack, harness, meat, milk. Height : 12.2 - 15 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : No fixed standard. Usually short, strong body, hard feet. The exact origins of the breed are hard to determine.

NEW FOREST PONY
The New Forest Pony is one of the recognized nine Mountain and Moorland or Native pony breeds of the British Isles, valued for its hardiness, strength and sureness of foot. Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 12 - 14.2 hh. Identifying Features : Large head, short back, sloping shoulders, muscular quarters, good feet. Today New Forest ponies still run wild. They are surefooted and good riding ponies. There have been references to the New Forest pony as far back as 1016. Stud books have been in existence since 1906.

PADANG PONY
Use : Harness, saddle. Height : 12.2 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Small head, slight build, light legs. The Padang of Sumatra was developed by the Dutch. They are a people friendly pony and go well with children. They are a hard working pony that shows a high degree of toughness.

PINDOS PONY
The Pindos is a pony native to the Pindus mountain range in Thessaly and Epirus, Greece. Use : Harness, sadle, pack, breeding. Height : 12 - 13 hh. Colours : Black, bay, brown. Identifying Features : Long head, narrow body, long back, weak quarters, slender legs, hard feet. Found in the mountainous areas of Thessaly and Epirus of mainland Greece.

POTTOCK PONY
Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 11 - 14.2 hh. Colours : Chestnut, bay, brown, skewbald, pinto. Identifying Features : Small head, straight profile except for small concavity between eyes, straight shoulders, long back, hard feet. French native pony, still found semi-wild in the mountainous Basque area. Friendly pony, with a good attitude. Is a strong work horse. They excel at dressage, show jumping, eventing, and other equestrian sports.

SABLE ISLAND HORSE
Use : Feral, Saddle. Height : 14 - 15 hh. Colours : Most solid colours. Identifying Features : Narrow body, large head with light legs. Sable island is off the coast of Nova Scotia. For the last 500 or more years herds of wild horses have survived on this barren island. They can be trained to saddle if caught young enough.

SANDALWOOD PONY
Use : Saddle. Height : 13.1 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Small head, short neck, long narrow back, high set tail, thin legs, hard feet. Bred on the islands of Sumba and Sumbawa, was named after the sweet smelling wood that is their main export. Seem never to sweat. They are very nice children's ponies, and have been exported to Australia. They have also been exported to other Southeast Asian countries for use as racing ponies.

SHETLAND PONY
Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 26 - 42 inches. Colours : All colours. Identifying Features : Small head, sloping shoulders, thick set body, short back, short legs. One of nine surviving native British breeds of Pony. The Shetland is very intelligent but can also be bad tempered. Shetland ponies are small horses, that are very strong for their size. They are a very strong breed or pony, used both for riding and pack purposes, and are noted for being able to pull considerable weight.

KAYOS PONY
The Skyros Pony is a breed of pony found on the Greek isle of Skyros. The breed is distinguished by its relatively small stature compared to other Greek ponies, standing a mere eleven hands Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 9.1 - 11 hh. Colours : Bay, dun. Identifying features : Small neat head, narrow body, straight shoulders, small feet, tendency to cow hocks. Has lived on the Greek island of Skyros since antiquity. Been used as a Pack and utility horse for centuries.

SORRAIA PONY
Use : Harness. Height : 12.2 - 13 hh. Colours : Grey-dun with usually black mane and tail. Identifying Features : Short head, black tipped ears, strong neck, deep compact body, short legs, low set tail. Native pony to the areas around the rivers Sor and Raia, running through Portugal and Spain. Today it`s numbers are very depleted. The Sorraia has an appearance remarkably similar to the prehistoric cave paintings found across the northern Mediterranean and the Iberian peninsula. Not surprisingly, it has recently been genetically linked to the now extinct Tarpan that once ranged throughout southern Europe and into Asia.

SPITI PONY
The Spiti Pony originated in the Himalayan region of India, and today is bred in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Use : Pack. Height : 12 hh. Colours : All colours. Identifying features : Plain looks, thick set strong body, hard legs, hard feet. Lives in the Himalayas. Tireless pack pony, that can sometimes be bad tempered. Suited to mountainous climate and terrain, they are not as able to endure humidity and heat.

SUMBA PONY
The Sumba Pony and Sumbawa Pony are named after the island on which they are bred--the Sumba Island and Sumbawa Island respectively. However, the two breeds are similar enough that they may be considered one. The ponies descended from Mongolian Horses and ancient Chinese stock. Use : Saddle, pack. Height : 12.2 hh. Colours : Dun with dorsal stripe. Identifying features : Small head, short neck, small body, strong back, strong legs. Very strong pony despite it`s small size, capable of carrying large loads.

TARPAN PONY
Use : Feral. Height : 13 hh. Colours : Mouse dun with dorsal stripe. Identifying Features : Broad head, short thick neck, long strong back, narrow quarters, short strong legs. Name means wild horse. The Tarpan, Equus ferus ferus, was the Eurasian wild horse. The last specimen of this species died in captivity in Ukraine in 1918 or 1919. Polish farmers often crossed the tarpan with their domestic horses. The result was a small horse breed, the Konik. Such animals, as the Konik, and also the Sorraia Horse preserved in Portugal, are now being used to breed back the Tarpan, and to fill in the niche that was left vacant by their extinction in the wild. A semi-wild herd now roams in a forest in Poland.

TIMOR PONY
Developed on the Indonesian island of Timor, likely from Indian breeds that were imported to the island. Use : Saddle, harness. Height : 11 - 12 hh. Colours : Dark, sometimes cream tail and mane. Identifying Features : Small head, short neck, straight slight body, tail high set. The smallest of the Indonesian native ponies. Good powers of endurance and commonsense.

YAKUT PONY
A rare breed found in the Siberia area. These small ponies have many characteristics of the Shetland Pony. Use : Saddle, harness, milk. Height : 13 - 14 hh. Colours : Any clour except grey. Identifying Features : Thickset head, short strong legs, shaggy coat. Descended from the extinct Tundra horse. Lives in temperatures that sometimes go below -69 degrees C.

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