Facts about Exmoor Pony
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Their strong teeth and digestive system allow Exmoor Ponies to extract maximum nutrition from sparse moorland vegetation that other horse breeds cannot efficiently process.
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Selective breeding programs since the 1950s have successfully increased the global Exmoor Pony population from fewer than fifty individuals to over three hundred today.
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Feral herds of Exmoor Ponies roamed Exmoor forest until 1818, when the last wild population was hunted to extinction and only domesticated animals remained.
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Exmoor Ponies have 17 pairs of ribs, one more than most other horse breeds, providing extra lung capacity for survival in harsh moorland conditions.
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Exmoor Ponies possess a unique double-layered winter coat with an oily outer layer that sheds water, enabling them to survive exposure to harsh moorland weather without shelter.
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In 1818, the Exmoor Pony stud book was established, making it one of the oldest equine registries in the world for a native British breed.
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Standing between 11.2 and 12.2 hands high, Exmoor Ponies are among the smallest native British horse breeds, originally developed to thrive on Devon and Somerset moorlands.
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The distinctive mealy muzzle marking and dark bay coloring of Exmoor Ponies helped them survive on the harsh moorland environment for over two thousand years.
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Approximately 300 Exmoor Ponies remain in existence today, making them one of Britain's rarest native horse breeds.