The Dartmoor Pony Society was concerned that the native Dartmoor (unregistered Dartmoor pony) might disappear due to market forces.

The Dartmoor Pony Society whose primary interest is in the improvement of the pedigree Dartmoor Pony, was alarmed that the number of native ponies had dropped to a critical level.

The native pony is in effect the gene pool for the breed. Once the native pony is lost from Dartmoor – its original habitat – it is in effect extinct.

The pedigree pony relies on new blood coming in from the native pony to ensure that the pedigree does not become inbred.

The Dartmoor Pony Preservation Scheme is run by the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust. The aim of the scheme is to support as many of the existing native Dartmoor Pony herds on the Commons and to ensure that the number of native Dartmoor ponies does not fall any further.

The Trust runs a number of initiatives to assist pony keepers:

• Handle young stock in five foundation skills - creating quiet ponies suitable for family homes
• Castrate colt foals not suitable for breeding
• Run a Sales List
• Publicity and Marketing
• Private Sales
• Promotion of the Dartmoor Pony for Conservation Grazing
• Bellever is a 1,000 acre site of prime moorland and forestry on Dartmoor -  we allow pony keepers to send their ponies to this site to mature
• Administer the Heritage Trust List - this enables suitable stock eligibility for the Native Breeds at Risk Supplement