Born out of poverty, the Connemara Pony evolved from an unusual blend of natural selection and human need. The history is obscure, yet the Connemara Pony is considered Ireland's only native breed. Legend has it that when the Spanish Armada sank off the Connemara coast in the 16th century, the horses swam to shore and bred with the native ponies running wild in the mountains. They learned to live on the tough vegetation and survive the hardships of their habitat, as a misplaced step could send a pony crashing to its death.

Local farmers could only afford one good pony, often captured off the mountain and tamed. This had to be a mare who could give them a foal each year to sell for subsistence through the long, dark winter. She would pull a plow, a cart, and work from dawn to dusk under extremely harsh conditions. Stallions would travel the primitive roads between villages, covering many mares and many miles in one day.

The largest of the pony breeds, Connemaras range in height from 13 to 15 hands, with 14 to 14.2 hands as the average, making it a suitable mount for both children and adults. Easy keepers, they do not require a rich diet to stay healthy and fit. Connemaras are the image of strength, kindness and trust. Their inner peace will calm you as they charm their way into your heart.

This breed profile was excerpted, with permission, from the American Connemara Pony Society web site at www.acps.org.