Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A)

Intro

All sections of the Welsh ponies come from Wales, the Welsh Mountain Pony registers under Section A of their studbook. The Mountain pony is the original, an ancient breed that inhabited Wales prior to Roman invasion, of the four types, this is the oldest.

Origins

The mountain ponies are thought to be descendant of the Celtic ponies, however their conformation indicates that there was some Arabian influence along the way.

4 Welsh Pony Types

Based on the blood of the mountain type, 3 other types have emerged.

Section A – Which is the mountain pony and they may not exceed 12 hands.
Section B – A slightly larger animal that stands 12 – 13.2 hands
Section C – A pony of cob type and a more robust animal standing up to 13.2 hands
Section D – The Welsh Cob which is a horse type standing taller than 13.2 hands

According to the DAD-IS, Welsh Mountain Ponies (Section A) are endangered and as of 2021 there were 1417 left.

Features

Section A height cannot exceed 12 hands

Physique

Head is small with a straight or slightly concave profile, tapering muzzle
Eyes are large and bold
Ears are small and high set
Neck is shapely and arched
Back is short and straight
Chest is deep and broad
Shoulder is long and sloping
Legs are sturdy with broad joints
Hooves are round and tough