Lutra 56(2)_Hovens & Rijkers_2013

On the origins of the Exmoor pony: did the wild horse survive in Britain?

The Exmoor pony is considered the most primitive horse breed of Great Britain, but not a type of wild horse. In this article we draw upon historical descriptions, the literature on anatomical and morphological characteristics and on evidence based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and combine this with original analysis of the jaws and teeth of Exmoor ponies. Unlike elsewhere this wild pony type did not mix with other horse types on Exmoor. This leads us to argue that the Exmoor pony is not a ‘man-made’ breed, but a wild horse type with a separate history that has been uninfluenced by domestic horses.