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Faeroes Pony
Also Known By: Føroyar (Danish), Foerøerne, Faeroe Island Horse, Föroyski Hesturin (Faroese)
The horses found on the Faeroe Islands are one of the oldest and purest breeds of horses found today. They are comparable
with the Icelandic Pony in that they also are of ancient origin and have been bred pure, at least in part, due to isolated conditions.
The Faeroe Islands are located in the North Atlantic between Iceland and the Shetland Islands. There are seventeen
inhabited islands and several islets and reefs, in total, covering 540 square miles. The climate is oceanic and mild
with little variation in temperature. The islands see frequent fog and rain, approximately 60 inches a year. There
are no reptiles or indigenous land mammals found in the Faeroe Islands. They are naturally treeless due to the strong
western winds and frequent gales. They were first settled by Irish monks in approximately 700 A.D. and were colonized
by Vikings around 800.
The Faeroes pony resemble horses brought to Europe from Asia in about 200 A.D. These small horses were brought to
the islands by the early Celtic and Scandinavian settlers.
Before the formation of the the association for the Faeroes pony there were only five individuals still in existence.
By 1988, the numbers had increased to 27 due to preservation efforts of concerned breeders. All the animals have been
entered into the stud book and their blood types have been identified. They have also been evaluated for breeding purposes
and 24 of the animals were approved for breeding.
Most Faeroes are bay with some black. They are also sometimes found in brown but never in gray or skewbald.
Occasionally a palomino or pale dun appears in the breed. The hair is thick and grows very heavy in the winter.
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Falabella
 The origin of the Falabella horse can be linked to the origins of a horse in Latin America called the Andalusian horse that the Spaniards brought with them to accomplish the enormous task of the conquest--chosen for their
rusticity and resistance. They were later left to survive on their own due to unsuccessful attempts to conquer the area's
human inhabitants. The name comes from the family who developed the breed in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Wandering without destination over the vast plains ("pampas"), the surviving horses underwent by necessity
a series of biological processes and structural changes in order to adapt to the new conditions that were incredibly different
from those of their native land.
The horses were forced to move great distances to find water and pasture due to the strong sun, cold southwestern
winds ("El Pampero"), fierce storms and aridity of the land. This gave them incomparable resistance. Their keen instincts
and ability to sense danger were sharpened by the persecution from humans and four legged predators.
These factors, in addition to continuous inbreeding and isolation, probably caused genetic mutations in successive
generations, resulting in the kind of horse that the ancestors of the Falabella family are said to have seen for the first
time before the mid-nineteenth century in the herds of Mapuche Indians of southern Buenos Aires province in Argentina. 
The Falabella family achieved a herd of well-structured horses after many years of experimenting and selective
breeding. The family was able to maintain the same proportions in their features as those of the horses Falabella had first
acquired. This breed is also extremely long-lived, often reaching 40-45 years old.
The Falabella is a horse that possesses all the features and attributes of its taller relatives. The fixed
nature of the genetic characteristics of the Falabella allows for their natural reproduction. Offspring are bred with the
same temperament.
Though a gregarious and rustic animal in the field, the Falabella is a gentle and docile animal. The animal
takes to petting, hosing off, walking with a halter and other routines in a surprisingly short term.
The Falabella has fine, silky hair and skin that is thin and supple. The hooves are narrow with an oval shape.
The manes are short and straight while others are long and falling on both sides of the neck. The gait is spontaneous and
very energetic. The most common colors for the horse are black or brown but may vary from pinto, bay and chestnut.
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Fell Pony
 One of the classic native breeds of England, the Fell Pony is noted for its hardiness, courage and adaptability.
Its docile temperament makes it popular with riding and trekking stables, and it is also well suited for driving, is a creditable
jumper and has the ability to trot for long distances at a steady speed. Bred for the harsh environment of England's north
country where feed is always at a premium, the Fell requires less keep than most horses and ponies, and given sufficient shelter,
will live out in all weather. Generally, the native breeds were named after-their local habitat and in relation to the work
for which they were bred ... thus the name "Fell" or hills.
The Romans, in their endless search for conquests, first landed
on the shores of Britain around about 55 B.C. A considerable number of Friesian horses were imported into the north of England either by the
Romans or by mercenaries in their employ. Eventually when the Romans withdrew from Britain to go to the aid of their besieged
home city of Rome, they left behind about one thousand Friesian horses, most of which were stallions, and which were bred with
the native ponies. From these not only the Fell was bred but also the Old English Black (now merged into the Shire Horse)
and the now extinct Galloway and Fen ponies.
The Fell Pony's similarity to the Friesian horse has always been striking. Apart from looking very much
alike, the Friesian horse was, and still is, noted for its ability to trot, and
this characteristic was passed on to the Fell Pony, which soon attained fame likewise for its speed and stamina at this gait.
There is no doubt that the Fell Pony and the Welsh Pony were the foundation for the modern Hackney Pony with its extravagant
high stepping action (from A History of British Driving Ponies by Anthony Dent and Daphne Machin Goodall).
 The present day Fell Pony stands up to fourteen hands, which is the height limit, although most average thirteen hands two
inches. The head should be neat and pony-like and set on a fairly long neck which together with well laid back shoulders gives
the rider a good length of rein. Large or coarse heads should be avoided, and a pony with a short, thick neck will never be
a good ride. The ribs should be well sprung and the loins strong. The quarters should be muscular and powerful and the hocks
well let down. Good legs are one of the qualities of the breed, and these must be strong with plenty of bone. Pasterns should
slope moderately, and the hooves should be hard and open with the characteristic blue horn. The feather, which extends up
to the knee should be straight and silky, and the mane and tail long and thick.
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