Shetland Pony

History
 The Shetland Pony, as the named suggests, originates from the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland. No one knows exactly how the foundation horses came to Scotland, though some theorize that they are related to Scandinavian horses and were brought to the area by the Vikings. Nevertheless, several hundred years of living in the harsh climate of the area has caused the breed to develop in hardy pony.

Shetland Pony credit

At first, the pony was used to pull carts work farms. However, in the mid-1800s, when laws were passed prohibting children and women from working in mines, men needed someone else to help them haul coal. They resorted to the Shetland, a strong breed for it's small size. Until well into the 20th century, Shetlands were used as pit ponies not only in the UK, but also in America. These mines closed in the late 20th century.

Breed Description and Uses
 Shetlands are small, sturdy ponies standing up to 10 hands high. Two types exist within the breed: a stocky one with a large head and a lighter one with a small head. Both kinds have thick manes and tails, hard hooves, wide backs, and broad hindquarter, and can be found in black, chestnut, bay, and even pinto.

 Despite their small stature, Shetlands have a large weight capacity and are able to carry a third of their body weight. This means they can carry a average adult, though they are most commonly ridden by children due to there small size. Shetlands participate in both English and western classes, as well as gymkhana. Some children even jump with their ponies. Whatever the task, the Shetland seems to have done it. That includes harness and packing as well as riding.

Pony of the Americas

History
 The Pony of the Americas was created by accident when a Shetland bred with and Arabian/Appaloosa cross in the 1950s in Mason City, Iowa. The result was a small horse with Appaloosa spots all over its body and a unique black hand print on his hip. When Shetland breeder and lawyer Les Boomhower noticed the horse, named Black Hand, he bought him, thinking it would make an ideal children's horse able to compete in a variety of disciplines. He called several of his friends, also Shetland breeders, who became interested in Black Hand. Boomhower offered his idea of making Black Hand the foundation stallion of a new breed of pony, and his friends agreed to help.

The POA is like a miniature Quarter Horse with Appaloosa
spots and a slightly concave profile. credit

 In 1954, Boomhower and his friends founded the Pony of the Americas Club(POAC) with the goal of creating a medium-sized pony for older children. The guidelines were strict: the pony had to resemble a small Quarter Horse with a dished Arab face and spots like an Appaloosa. Black Hand fit the criteria and was the first horse to be registered, but was followed by twelve others a year later. Fifteen years later, over 12,500 ponies had been registered with the club, a large number for the breed's short time of existence. Today, there is over 50,000 ponies.

 In the 1960s, the Shetland Pony was eliminated from the breeding program, replaced with large ponies, such as Welsh ones. The height limit, originally 13 hands high, was changed to 14 with the adding of larger ponies.

 In addition to registering ponies and recording pedigrees, the POAC has programs in which youth compete with the ponies. They encourage children to be friends and support each other, even when showing against each other.

Breed Description and Uses
 The Pony of the Americas, though small at an average of 11.2 to 14 hands high, is proportioned like a horse rather than a pony. The breed is muscular with a deep chest, sloping shoulders, a rounded croup, and a sturdy neck. The head is often slightly concave, much like Arabian the POA is a descendent of. The breed can come in a variety of coat patterns, including blanket and leopard. In short, it resembles miniature American Quarter Horse with an Arabian head and spots like that of an Appaloosa.

 The POA is able to compete is a variety of disciplines, including show jumping, dressage, eventing, and endurance riding. They can also be used for ranch work and trail riding.

The Dartmoor Pony

 History
Dartmoor Ponies are native to southern England. They have lived there for centuries. During the Middle Ages, the hardy little ponies hauled heavy loads from one village to another,often traveling several miles. However, in 1535, King Henry VIII passed a law to kill all horses under 14 hands, putting the tiny Dartmoor at risk. He even fined people with small horses! Later, he passed another law, changing the minimum height to 15 hands. He hoped that by doing so, bigger horses, more suitable to carrying knights in heavy armor, would be bred. Once Queen Elizabeth I took the throne, she invalidated the law. Tiny Dartmoors came into use again.

 In the eighteenth century, when mining became popular in England, the Dartmoors became pit ponies, used to haul mine carts out of the mines. Shetland blood was added to the breed by miners. After the mines closed, ponies were released into the wild.

 In the 1930s, the Dartmoor Pony came to North America for the first time. His sturdiness and kind temperament made him loved by adults and children alike. Throughout the years, as often happens to other breeds, the Dartmoor was crossbred with some other horse breeds to create a better pony. Before long, pureblood Dartmoors were becoming rare. It was Joan Dunning that had a significant influence on the breed. From the day in 1936 when Dartmoor Ponies first set foot on her farm in White Post, Virginia and forward, she bred pureblood Dartmoors, become a leading breeder in the Dartmoor Pony world. Today, her daughter, Hetty Abeles, is one of the most popular Dartmoor Pony breeders.

Dartmoors are small and sturdy, making them perfect for driving or children's mounts.
source

 In 1951, Dartmoor National Park was made in the area of England where the pony originated. There, the Dartmoor Ponies, some of which are owned by local farmers, are protected by the government. To further help the Dartmoor Pony, the Dartmoor Pony Moorland Scheme was founded in 1988. They helped by keeping the pony' bloodlines pure. Since then, the Dartmoor Pony has become increasingly popular in the U.S., and more and more Dartmoors have been imported from England.

Breed Description and Uses
 Dartmoors are small, sturdy ponies, standing between 11.1 to 12.2 hands high on average. Their legs are short and their head is small. Due to their small size, they are popular children's mounts. Sometimes, they are even used for driving.