Meta Title: 7 Popular Pony Breeds | Strathorn Farm

Meta Description: Discover the seven most popular pony breeds. Find out what they are best known for and if these ponies are right for you.

7 Popular Pony Breeds

There are a variety of popular pony breeds, with the most popular being Shetland ponies. They are small but strong enough for pony rides and have friendly temperaments.

Let’s look at the top seven pony breeds and what makes them special.

1. Shetland Pony

• Height: 10.2 hands
• Colors: Bay, black chestnut, gray, roan
• Use: Riding, driving, and packing
• Best known for: Their thick, shaggy coats and playful personalities

Best known for their small size, Shetland ponies are commonly used for children’s riding. They generally live between 25 and 30 years, but the oldest recorded age for a Shetland pony is 56 years old.

While they were originally used to pull carts and haul coal from the coal mines during the Industrial Revolution, their gentle natures make them popular as driving and riding choices for children and adults today.

The Shetland pony is intelligent, stubborn, and hardy. Hailing from Scotland’s Shetland Islands, this pony breed is one of the hardiest. Their long hair and shaggy coats help them withstand cold weather, and they can survive on almost any vegetation.

2. Welsh Pony and Cob

• Height: Between 12.2 hands high and over 14.2 hands high
• Colors: Bay, black chestnut, gray, roan
• Use: Riding, driving, showing, and working
• Best known for: Having four different sections with different sizes and temperaments to suit different riders and personalities.

Welsh Ponies are one of the more intelligent pony breeds and are renowned for their friendly nature.

They come in four closely related sections, each with its own distinctive characteristics; however, their height would be the most common differentiating factor. The height also determines how the pony can be used.

3. New Forest Pony

• Height: Between 12 and 14.2 hands
• Colors: New Forest pony colors are restricted. Ponies cannot be piebald, skewbald, spotted, or blue-eyed cream.
• Use: Riding, driving, and showing
• Best known for: Their semi-feral lifestyle and sure-footed confidence.

New Forest ponies are a British native breed. They generally have a gentle temperament but can be quite spirited too. Their thick coats are well-adapted to the harsh climate in New Forest, making them a very hardy breed that can live for around 25 to 30 years.

It is common practice to let New Forest pony males free into the forest for a period of time to mate with other females. They love chewing the grass in the forest, which keeps the greenery short and neat.

New Forest ponies are favored as workhorses because of their agility and workability. They are a strong, sturdy pony breed, very intelligent, and easy to train. They can also withstand long, hard working conditions.

4. Dartmoor Pony

• Height: Between 11.1 and 12.2 hands
• Colors: Bay, brown, black, gray, chestnut, or roan. No piebald or skewbald coloring allowed, and no excessive white markings.
• Use: Child’s pony
• Best known for: Their stamina and ability to bond with humans

Historically, the Dartmoor Pony was used for mine and farm work. This native breed is good-looking and known for its resilience and stamina, despite its relatively small stature. They have thick coats to ward off the cold winter weather. They also respond well to praise and are highly versatile.

From eventing to dressage and show jumping, Dartmoor Ponies are valued for their versatility and endurance. These ponies are also highly popular as a children’s ride.

5. Fell Pony

• Height: 14 hands
• Colors: Most commonly black, but also bay, brown, gray, dark chestnut, or chestnut. Minimal white markings are acceptable, but excess white markings are not acceptable.
• Use: Riding, driving, and showing
• Best known for: Their strong, hard-working natures and sure-footedness

The Fell pony comes from north-west England. They are named after the hills and mountains of Cumberland and Westmorland.

They have strong hooves, which makes walking along rocky paths easier. Because they are so strong, they can also carry heavy loads over long distances. In fact, fully Fell ponies are strong enough to carry an adult, even though they only reach around 14 hands high.

6. Eriskay Pony

• Height: 12-13.2 hands
• Colors: Gray
• Use: Light draught work, dressage, show jumping, eventing, riding, and driving
• Best known for: Being an old, rare breed.

It has been said that the Eriskay Pony is the last of the British native breeds. Their lineage can be traced back to prehistoric times, and they have lived in isolation for centuries on the Island of Eriskay. There was a time when initiatives brought opportunities to mix this breed with Arabian stallions. However, some organizations and individuals would rather fight to keep these original native ponies going.

Eriskay Ponies are treasured for being hardy, intelligent, and pure survivors. This Scottish pony may be born black, but it turns gray as it matures. It has a dense coat, which acts like waterproofing against the rainy seasons. These ponies are both robust and very calm creatures, and they are safe for even the most novice rider.

7. Exmoor Pony

• Height: 12.2 hands
• Colors: Dun, Bay, Brown with no white markings
• Use: Riding, driving, showing, trail rides
• Best known for: Their hardiness and sure-footedness

The Exmoor Pony hails from the moores. They generally have a rugged appearance, thick coats, and strong hooves, which give these ponies the surefootedness they require to navigate through the mountains. This pony breed has a thick mane, tail, and insulated undercoat that keeps them warm during winter. Their oily overcoat keeps the moisture away from their skin.

With their compact build, even small adults can ride on their backs. They are quite intelligent, which makes training them for riding and driving both popular choices.

FAQs

What is the most common pony breed?

The Shetland pony is the most common breed of pony. They are small, friendly, hardy, and very popular with children.

What is the friendliest pony breed?

Welsh Ponies and Shetland ponies are the friendliest breeds.

What is the rarest pony breed?

The Eriskay Pony is the rarest, with only 420 registered around the world.

What is the strongest pony?

The Dales pony is probably the strongest pony breed. Coming from the Yorkshire Dales, these ponies were bred to carry heavy loads over harsh terrains. They are also efficient and reliable.

Conclusion

Whether you are a seasoned equestrian or you just love anything to do with ponies, there is a pony for everyone. While there are distinctive differences between a horse and a pony, modern breeds seem to have a combination of traits. From show jumping to working in therapeutic riding programs, ponies are versatile animals.

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