Last Updated on March 2, 2022 by Allison Price
The Connemara Pony, a calm, brave and intelligent breed of horse from Ireland is the only native breed.
Connemara Pony, Ireland’s only native breed, is also not an indigenous species. Many believe that the breed’s ancestors were brought to Ireland by the Celts 2,500 years ago. They brought their ponies, which are most likely of Asian descent. Others believe they are the result of Scandinavian ponies that were left behind by Viking invaders. They could also be the Irish Hobeye (or Hobby), which was a riding horse that was popular in the 13th Century and is known for its speed and endurance. Or Iberian horses that fled sunken Spanish Armada vessels (circa 1588). They landed on the shore and mated with native pony breeds.
No matter their origins, ponies who grew up in the rugged Connemara region in County Galway, western Ireland, were strong and resilient. The breed was further influenced and enriched by Arabian, Hackney, Thoroughbred blood. In 1923, the Connemara Pony Breeders Society was founded to preserve the breed.
Characteristics
Connemara Ponies are between 12.2-14.2 inches high. They have typical pony characteristics such as a refined head, large ears, small ears, an intelligent, long neck, sloping shoulders and straight back. They are calm and intelligent, easy to handle, and very sure-footed.
Grey colouring is quite common but black, bay, brown and dun (buckskin), chestnut, palomino, cream and roan are also possible. The Connemara Pony Breeders Society of Ireland inspects ponies and grades them from 1-3 according to strict breed standards.
