The Faroe pony, Faeroes pony, or Faroese horse, (''Føroyska rossið'' in Faroese) is a small pony, with a height between . Technically this animal is a pony due to its height, but in the

Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ), or simply the Faroes ( fo, Føroyar ; da, Færøerne ), are a North Atlantic island group and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are located north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway bet ...

it is called a horse because of its strength. The Faroe pony is only to be seen on the Faroe Islands and is therefore little known in other countries. There are only 94 Faroe ponies left living on the Faroe Islands.

Features

The colors of the pony vary a lot, but are mainly chestnut, brown, black or speckled, with white also occurring in previous populations. It is known to be very an enduring, strong, friendly, adaptable and sure-footed pony breed with four

gait Gait is the pattern of movement of the limbs of animals, including humans, during locomotion over a solid substrate. Most animals use a variety of gaits, selecting gait based on speed, terrain, the need to maneuver, and energetic efficiency. ...

s including the ''tölt'', an ambling gait which it shares with the Icelandic horse. A fully grown Faroese pony weighs 250-300 kilograms. The winter coat is very long, dense and water repellent, while the summer coat is shorthaired and smooth.

History

The Faroese pony is mentioned in written sources from the 1600s. In the old days this pony breed was used to carry or haul heavy loads at farms and some sources also describes Faroese ponies trained to herd sheep (known as ''tøkuhestar''). When it wasn't at work, it was released onto the mountains where it roamed freely. Today Faroese ponies are only kept by hobby breeders and it is mostly used as a riding horse for children. The Faroe pony has been on the Faroe Islands for many hundreds of years. In 1880 more than 800 animals were registered on the

, but by the 1960s the population had been decimated to only five to six horses. One of the reasons was an extensive horse export from 1850 - 1920, for use in the mining industry (as

pit ponies A pit pony, otherwise known as a mining horse, was a horse, pony or mule commonly used underground in mines from the mid-18th until the mid-20th century. The term "pony" was sometimes broadly applied to any equine working underground.English ...

) in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

. A conservation and breeding program was initiated by Leivur T. Hansen and in 1978 the organization ''Felagið Føroysk Ross'' (Breeders of Faroe Ponies) was established. With huge efforts, the Faroe pony population increased to 70 animals in 2015 which are declared genetically pure, with 14 male breeders and the aim is to maintain and develop the breed further. The low population is a risk for inbreeding, and approval for export may improve genetic diversity. The Faroe pony has since been recognised as a unique breed.

References

Sources

* NordGen
Føroyska rossið (Færø hesten)
Faroese Veterinary Service
Faroese Horse
Society for Faroese Horses

External links

Felagið Føroysk Ross
Breeders of Faroe Ponies
Breeds of Livestock - Faeroes Pony Horse
Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University
Faroese pony stamps
{{Equine, state=collapsed Horse breeds Faroese culture Horse breeds originating in Denmark

Features

History

See also

References

Sources

External links