Horse Breeds: Dartmoor Pony

Dartmoor, located not too far from the famous Stonehenge in England, is well known for its involvement in Sherlock Holmes' The Hounds of the Baskervilles. This quaint area of southwest England is also natural home of the Dartmoor Pony. The closeness of the sea meant that the ancestors of the Dartmoor Pony were often crossed with the mounts of sailors and soldiers arriving from the continent. The many breedings resulted in a pony with several unique qualities.

But none of these crossings gave us the Dartmoor Pony we know today. It wasn't until Shetland Ponies were introduced to the area that a tougher mining pony began to develop. Unfortunately, these crossbreedings nearly ended the Dartmoor Pony for good as the blood was diluted and too many of the ponies had the look and hardiness of the Shetland Pony. The natural elegance of the Dartmoor Pony had been all but lost. Thankfully, breeders saw what was happening and moved to intervene. They introduced Welsh and Fell Ponies, even a few polo ponies, into the area and allowed them to breed with the native Dartmoor. Arabians were also brought over, adding elegance back into the breed.

World War II (WWII) again brought the Dartmoor Pony to the brink of extinction. Their natural home in Dartmoor was turned into a training field for soldiers. This robbed the elegant pony of its natural breeding grounds. It was only through the dedication of many breeders in the area that this horse breed survived at all.

Today, this horse is considered a top English show mount. You are most likely to see this rare breed in both jumping and flatwork. The Dartmoor is calm, friendly, pleasant, and brave. Their bravery makes them good jumpers as the are willing to try anything. The smooth action of this pony makes it a comfortable mount for children and adults alike. They are also the perfect driving pony.

The Dartmoor is a true pony, standing between 11 and 12.2 hands high. This breed can be found in all colors except pinto and tends to have a darker mane and tail. The breed is sturdy, but the elegance of the pony cannot be denied. The Dartmoor Pony possesses a lovely long action and is a joy to watch.

Currently, The Dartmoor Pony Registry of America maintains the official studbook for all Dartmoor Ponies in the United States.