Use : An embassador of the past , the Exmoor pony has remained comparatively unchanged since prehistoric times . Eleven herd still exist in a semi - ferine state within Exmoor National Park in southwest England . While traditionally used to tend and herd livestock , because of their hardihood , they excel at trail , endurance , harness and as children ’s mount .
History :
Exmoor ponies first arrived in Britain from Alaska about 130,000 age ago and were hunted by world for their meat , skin and fatty tissue . Due to climate change the trot was restricted to mountain and moorland area and became recognise as the British Hill pony . Ponies from these herds were eventually domesticated bythe Celts and used in the main to take out chariot . subsequently , with the intro of horses from continental Europe , nearly all of the British Hill pony populations were diluted . Only the geographically isolated ponies on Exmoor scat with little cross .
In 1921 , the Exmoor Pony Society was established to conserve the ponies . The forties were disastrous for the pony stock . U.S. troops stationed near the herds used the jigger for target practice and others were stolen and butchered for food . By the end of the World War II , around 50 Exmoor ponies remained . before long after , Mary Etherington , a environmentalist and admirer of the breed , help stock breeder re - establish their Exmoor crib herds .
Conformation : The Exmoor pony has been shaped by nature so there is little variation within the breed . The distinctive Exmoor pony is straightforwardly built . Stallions and gelding stand between 47 and 51 inch magniloquent , while mares average out about an column inch light . The Exmoor pony ’s treble - superimposed pelage are bay , dark-brown or dun with black spots and a granulose color on the muzzles , around the eye and inside flank . The tail end hair is short around the bob and splays outward , which helps channel rain . The pony ’s large , protruding eyes are known as “ toad middle ” and are protect by a raised rim of fat that avail deflect water .
Special Considerations / Notes : Every year in the Exmoor National Park , the pony herds are flesh out up for inspection . Foals that do n’t meet the strain standards are sell . The Moorland Mousie Trust , located within the park , is a charity dedicate to place undesirable ponies and saving them from slaughter . With only 800 mortal in the world , the Exmoor pony is heel as jeopardise on the American Livestock Breed Conservancy ’s Conservation Priority List .
