Dartmoor Pony

Dartmoor Pony, small but elegant breed of pony that has roamed wild on the rugged wastes of Dartmoor in south-western England for centuries. From the 12th century, it was used for light draught in agriculture and tin mining. In the 19th century, it was worked almost to extinction in coal mining. However, blood from Arab stock as well as from Welsh Mountain and Fell ponies have since improved the breed. Today, it is much valued as a child’s riding pony. Its colours are bay, brown, or black and its height at the shoulder does not exceed 12.2 hands (127 cm/50 in). The head is small with pointed ears, with a strong neck and set-back shoulders. The body is compact and the back, loins, and hindquarters are muscular. The legs are slim and hard with tough hooves and a low knee movement. The mane is full and the tail set high.