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Also known as the Asturcon, the Asturian Pony is a pony from the Asturias region of Northern Spain. The ancient breed's ancestry is not known, although it is thought to have been from crosses between the Sorraia, Garrano, and the ancient Celtic pony. The breed has faced extinction, but recently many societies have been formed to protect the pony. The ponies are hardy and frugal, able to survive in the harshest areas. They are quiet and willing animals, and are used for riding, driving, and as pack horses. They tend to have a small but heavy head, a thin neck with much mane, low withers, a deep chest, straight shoulders and strong legs. They are rounded through the barrel, and have a sloping group with a low-set tail. The Astruian pony has a naturally ambling gait that is very comfortable. For this, much of the blood was taken to Ireland to produce the Irish Hobby Horse. The ponies are usually brown or black, with minimal white markings. They stand between 11.2- and 12.2 hh. |
