I’ve always been captivated by the Newfoundland pony. Last Sunday I happened to catch a Land and Sea archival show about the Newfoundland pony and I glommed onto it like an addict needing a fix.
It got me comparing the public recognition of the breed to that of the Newfoundland dog, and I think it’s sad. The Newfoundland pony is recognized as extraordinary all over the scientific equestrian world but doesn’t have the iconic status it deserves in its own home.
Why should this pony be an iconic symbol in Newfoundland? Two reasons: its role in our history and its uniqueness in the species.
There’s no way to overstate how vital the Newfoundland pony was to the existence of outport Newfoundlanders. It hauled the firewood, lumber for wharves, stages, barns and houses, kelp to the gardens, rocks away, and transported their owners from place to place. You couldn’t survive without a pony. It was as simple as that.
Its uniqueness is well documented. From the interbreeding of ponies that came with early settlers, centuries of natural selection and adaptation in our harsh climate resulted in the elimination of genetic traits that didn't aid in survival, creating what Pony and Horse International describes as “a distinct landrace breed, the epitome of survival of the fittest reproduction.” (Landrace referring to any species that has evolved to suit its environment because of its environment.)
The Newfoundland Pony Conservancy Center in New Hampshire says in its website that the Newfoundland pony has no known health issues or genetic problems, and with the prevalence of modern selective breeding diluting the overall gene pool, “the Newfoundland pony is said to be the last remaining landrace pony on this continent that has not had its genes tampered with. This is a pony that is crucial to save and preserve it, as is.”
The Newfoundland Pony Society (NPS) in Newfoundland (which rescued and re-homed 26 ponies in 2020) is dedicated to doing just that. Thanks to its work, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador created the Heritage Animals Act, “to support and promote certain breeds or kinds of animals that have an attachment to the province’s history”.
The Newfoundland pony is the only animal with a heritage designation and the Act gives it legal protection. Gone are the days when they were carried off in hundreds to mainland slaughterhouses although, once numbering in the thousands, there are now only estimated 500-600 remaining and only a portion of these are breeding animals.
But things continue to look up for our very own home-grown pony. The NPS is working toward developing a home for them on 25 acres of crown land near Hopeall, Trinity Bay. The Newfoundland Pony Heritage Park will have free grazing pasture and breeding space for pony owners and a visitor centre for school groups, the public and tourists.
I’m excited about this (especially as Hopeall is close to Heart’s Content). I’ve joined the society and am looking forward to contributing in some way to a renewed appreciation of this very special pony.
While the word pony describes an immature horse, it also describes a distinct branch of the equine tree and the difference between horses and ponies help explain why the Newfoundland pony became such a valued part of our heritage.
Help us locate as many Newfoundland Ponies so we can add them to the breed Registry.https://t.co/jlf3e1waBE
— Newfoundland Pony Society (@nfld_pony) December 29, 2020
Aside from the obvious differences of height and coarse thickness of their coats, their short bodies, round-barrelled chests, powerful legs, dense bones and durable hooves combine to make them super strong for pulling, with a relative thickness greater than large draft breeds! Equally important is the fact that, because they evolved in a harsh environment with often rough terrain and minimal forage, ponies are easier and cheaper to keep.
I did a short survey about Newfoundland pony knowledge with six people I know ranging in age from 40 to 70. (I wish I’d had some high school students to include although I fear their answers.)
Three didn’t know the Newfoundland pony was a distinct breed. All knew it was used to “haul things around.” Two didn’t know it was endangered. Everyone used words like “cute” and “sweet” with one person calling it a provincial treasure.
She was right.
Janice Wells writes from St. John's