Lowlynn Silver Chief

Born 1947 by FESTIVAL from HOPEWOOD QUEENIE

Greylight  - Welsh Mountain (imp)

Born 1911 by DYOLL STARLIGHT from MYFANWY

A brief history of how the Australian Pony developed, is from the blending of various breeds of horse and ponies imported to Australia since the early 1800s.

Within the bloodlines of the Australian Pony, can be found the best of the Welsh Mountain, Welsh and Hungarian pony breeds, Arab, Thoroughbred, Hackney and with an infusion of the lesser known breeds.

The breeding of ponies was established in many states well before the turn of the century.  Purebred ponies of various breeds had been imported from England and the U.K. from around 1890, further imports ensured interest in pony breeding flourished.

It must be remembered that in those early days, the majority of ponies had to earn their keep, by providing transport for the family either by saddle or harness, as well as performing numerous other tasks.  Therefore of necessity, they had to be sound, versatile and of good temperament, as showing was not the primary role for most of them.

With the foundation of the Australian Pony Stud Book Society in 1931, initially three breed sections were set in place within the Stud Book - Shetland pony, Hackney and Australian pony.  The latter incorporated all other Mountain and Moorland pony breeds imported to this country from the turn of the century to that time.  This section also contained the registrations of the 'homebred' ponies thus establishing the genetic pool responsible for the Australian pony as a breed.

The Australian Pony quickly established itself as a versatile, hardy and tractable pony, able to fill the requirements needed for a pony in those times.

The section was closed to all outside blood in 1960 except for the permitted outcross of APSB Welsh A and B. The result of over a century of breeding has not only produced a beautiful and versatile pony in its own right but one which has formed the basis for the majority of today’s pony breed associations and societies. Ponies to have a marked influence on the breed in the early years include the legendary Welsh Mountain sire GREYLIGHT imported in 1910 and the Welsh pony of Cob Type, LITTLE JIM imported in 1909. Both were Reference sires in Volume One of the APSB and their bloodlines and those of their progeny helped to establish the genetic pool for the Australian pony. Others to significantly contribute to the breed include the imported Hungarian sire BONNIE CHARLIE and the Arabian influence of Barolin Feluka, Lowlynn Silver Chief and the PAYTEN line of ponies through mares such as METEOR, ROSNA, ROYAL DESCENT to name a few.

Welsh blood is still predominant within the breeding of the Australian Pony and Welsh A and B ponies is the only permitted non-consecetive outcross.  The Third Generation Section was developed to recognise those ponies who were bred within the section of breeding Australian pony to Australian pony.  The Third Generation pony is one whose parents and grandparents are registered in the Australian section of the APSB, and who are Australian on breeding and not a purebred of another breed. 

The AUSTRALIAN PONY OWNERS & BREEDERS ASSOCIATION was established in 1979 to promote this beautiful pony.

Burradoo Rex  

Born 1930 by RETFORD PRINCE ex FRASERS DOLLY

Little Jim - Welsh C (imp)

Born 1906 by GLYN DWR ex ROSIE BROWN

History

Proudly promoting Australia's Own - the Australian Pony