A Guide to Britain’s Native Pony Breeds

From the windswept moors of Dartmoor to the dramatic landscapes of the Shetland Isles, Britain is home to its fair share of wild ponies. They typically roam the country’s highlands and moorlands, where they’ve evolved over centuries into hardy animals adapted to life in harsh climates and rough terrain.

This guide will explore all 9 of Britain’s native pony breeds: Dales, Dartmoor, Eriskay, Exmoor, Fell, Highland, New Forest, Shetland and Welsh Mountain ponies. Read on to learn about the history and defining characteristics of each breed, as well as how to identify them and where to spot them in the British countryside.

Dales Pony

The Dales pony is intelligent, courageous, hardy and immensely strong with great stamina. During Victorian times, Dales ponies were used on farms, in the mines, and to transport coal all across County Durham and Northumberland. By the 1930s, thousands of them were in use across northern England and the Midlands, as the hardy breed was perfect for the rigours of Pennine life.

Sadly, Dales ponies were requisitioned by the British Army during World War II, and many lost their lives. Those that did survive became food for desperate people. As a result, the population of the Dales pony plummeted, and it’s estimated that there are now around 1,000 left worldwide.

Identifying a Dales Pony: Dales ponies stand between 14 to 14.2 hands high (142 – 144 cm), with a sturdy build designed to withstand the challenging terrain of Northern England. They’re typically black, brown or bay, with a thick mane and tail, and feathering around the hooves. They also have a wide forehead, large nostrils and a straight or slightly convex nose.

Where to spot them: Dales ponies can be found in the hills of North Yorkshire.

Dartmoor Pony

It’s thought that the Dartmoor pony has lived in the wild moors of Devon since the Middle Ages, making them one of Britain’s oldest pony breeds. These small but mighty ponies have adapted to thrive on the open moorland, with characteristics such as hardiness, sure-footedness, strength, and slow metabolism.

In the mid-1800s, Dartmoor ponies were used to transport granite from the moorland quarries, as their stamina and endurance made them excellent cart ponies. These days, the breed is a popular riding pony for children, thanks to their good temperament.

Identifying a Dartmoor pony: Dartmoor ponies are quite short, not exceeding 12.2 hands high (124cm). Most of them are brown or bay, but they can also be black, grey, chestnut or roan. They’re generally pretty-looking ponies, with a small head and large eyes.

Where to spot them: Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

Eriskay Pony

Eriskay is a small island found in the Outer Hebrides of northern Scotland. The island is home to a unique pony breed — the Eriskay — which is thought to have descended from wild horses that roamed the area in prehistoric times. The modern-day Eriskay Ponies, known in Gaelic as ‘Each Beag nan Eilean’ (Small Island Horse), roam freely across the island, and are the last remaining native Hebridean pony breed.

In the mid-19th century, Eriskay pony numbers began to decline due to crossbreeding with larger breeds, in a bid to produce ponies who could carry heavier loads on working farms. The population plummeted to just 20 ponies by the early 1970s, and although they are still critically endangered, conservation efforts have now increased the numbers to 300 registered breeding females.

Identifying an Eriskay: With sturdy, well-muscled bodies and a dense, waterproof coat that comes in grey, black, bay and occasionally roan, the Eriskay is built to withstand the harsh Hebridean climate. It also has unique primitive markings known as ‘Pangaré features’, which include a mealy muzzle, paler underparts and light hair around the eyes. 

Where to spot them: Eriskay, a small island in the Outer Hebrides of northern Scotland.

Exmoor Pony

The Exmoor pony is one of the oldest and purest of Britain’s native ponies, with a lineage that dates back thousands of years. They’re perfectly adapted to life on the moors, with excellent hardiness, sure-footedness and a thick winter coat.

Sadly, Exmoor ponies nearly became extinct during World War II, as they were rustled for meat and used by soldiers for target practice. Thankfully, numbers have since rebounded to approximately 500 on Exmoor and 3,500 worldwide, due to incredible conservation efforts.

Identifying an Exmoor pony: This breed is very recognizable. All Exmoor ponies are brown with mealy colouring around their eyes and muzzle. It’s this mealy colour that makes them identifiable from other breeds. They’re also short and stocky, with a deep chest, large girth and a thick mane.

Where to spot them: Exmoor National Park, which straddles the counties of Devon and Somerset. Exmoor ponies are endangered, but you’ll likely see some if you drive around the national park.

Fell Pony

The Fell Pony is an old breed that has long roamed the mountains of Cumbria, likely since prehistoric times. Herds of registered Fell ponies still run in the Cumbrian hills to this day, where they play a vital role in maintaining the breed’s lineage. The breed bears a resemblance to its geographic neighbour, the Dales Pony, but is a bit smaller and has a more pony-like build.

From the 11th and 12th centuries, Fell ponies were used locally for pack work, carrying goods such as wool, cheese, meat and metal ores, thanks to their strength and hardiness. By the 13th century, the ponies were being used to transport merchandise all across the country. Today, they’re a popular breed of riding pony and known for their distance-covering trot.

Identifying a Fell pony: The Fell pony has a sturdy build, standing between 13 and 14 hands. It has a broad forehead, intelligent eyes, and a straight or slightly convex nose. The body, robust and compact, is a clear indication of its strength and resilience. 

Where to spot them: Fell ponies are native to North England and are most commonly found in the upland areas of the Lake District and the Pennines.

Highland Pony

The Highland pony is one of Britain’s largest native pony breeds, standing between 13 and 14.2 hands high (132 – 144 cm). They’re a stocky, hardy breed with an excellent temperament, which means they’ve been used in all kinds of disciplines throughout history, including trekking and hunting.

The Highland pony is thought to be vulnerable, as only 5,500 individuals are estimated to remain. That being said, there is lots of work being done to conserve the breed through the Highland Pony Society. Queen Elizabeth II also opened a Highland pony stud at her estate in Balmoral to enhance and preserve the breed.

Identifying a Highland pony: Highland ponies have well-balanced, compact bodies. Their head is wide with a kind expression, and their tail is long and thick, often reaching the ground. Their coat, usually bay, brown, grey, black, or occasionally yellow dun, is double-layered to protect them from the harsh Scottish climate.

Where to spot them: Highland ponies can be found across Scotland, but particularly in the north. They are often seen roaming the rugged landscapes of Highland areas, such as in Cairngorms National Park.

New Forest Pony

In the 1600s, a law was passed that gave land users the right to graze their livestock in the area which is now known as the New Forest. To this day, locals still have that right, and are allowed to “turn out” their ponies to roam the national park. The ponies are considered wild because they are free to roam as they please, however, as they do all have owners, semi-wild is probably a more accurate description.

Regardless, New Forest ponies are crucial in maintaining the forest. As they have been around for so long, they are an essential part of the local ecology, and their presence has transformed the New Forest into what we see today.

Identifying a New Forest pony: New Forest ponies are valued for their hardiness, intelligence and friendliness, and are usually between 12 and 14 hands high (122 – 148 cm). They are most commonly bay, grey or chestnut in colour, although can be almost any colour, except for piebald, skewbald or blue-eyed cream.

Where to spot them: The New Forest National Park in Hampshire. New Forest ponies are everywhere in the national park and you are almost guaranteed to see them during a visit.

Shetland Pony

Maxing out at just 103cm high, the Shetland is the smallest pony breed in Britain, and one of the smallest in the world. These pint-sized ponies hail from the rugged, windswept Shetland Isles, located to the north of mainland Scotland. Despite their tiny stature, Shetland ponies possess a robust and sturdy build, making them well-adapted to the harsh climate of their home.

Shetland ponies have roamed the hills and moors of these isles for roughly 4,000 years. Being excluded from the mainland meant they evolved into a unique breed, highly specialised for their environment. From the 19th century, they were used in coal mines, as being tiny yet strong meant they could pass through low tunnels while hauling heavy loads of coal.

Identifying a Shetland pony: Shetland ponies are one of the smallest horse breeds in the world, standing at just 9 – 10.2 hands high (91 – 103 cm). This in itself makes them highly recognisable. They’re also very stocky, with a short neck, broad forehead, deep-set eyes, a thick, bushy tail, a small nose with large nostrils, and petite ears.

Where to spot them: You’ll find Shetland ponies roaming in the Shetland Isles, a smattering of rocky islands to the north of Scotland. They’re most commonly found in the West Mainland, Scalloway, Tingwall, Dunrossness and the island of Unst.

Welsh Mountain Pony

The Welsh Mountain pony is often referred to as the world’s prettiest pony breed. It’s not hard to see why, as they have flowing manes and tails, delicate, dished faces and large eyes with long lashes. They’re now a popular choice for riding ponies, as they’re typically intelligent with a good temperament.

As the name would suggest, these good-looking ponies are native to the mountains of Wales. They are thought to be the product of a 2,000-year evolution from the prehistoric Celtic pony. Over the centuries, these Celtic ponies migrated westward, with many finding a home in the northern hills of Wales. Cut off from the world, these ponies evolved in isolation, resulting in the Welsh Mountain Pony we know and love today.

Identifying a Welsh Mountain pony: I personally think Welsh Mountain ponies are very distinctive, but it might be because I grew up riding them! They have “dished” faces, meaning their nose is concaved, resulting in a tapering effect on the muzzle. They also have a small head and small ears and can be any colour, except piebald or skewbald.

Where to spot them: Welsh Mountain ponies can be found all over Welsh hillsides, such as in Pembrokeshire, Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the Gower. I’ve been to Wales twice (Pembrokeshire and Gower) and saw Welsh Mountain ponies on both occasions.

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