The Shetland Pony is one of the oldest British pony breeds in existance. It has been around for some 10,000 years and originated from the Shetland Islands, way up off the North East coast of Scotland. There are 2 main strains of shetland pony, the British Shetland and the American Shetland.

The British Shetland Pony

The classic Shetland pony is small in stature and according to the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society (SPSBS) - based in UK - they cannot be higher than 42" (unusually the shetland isn't measured in the more usual "hands" that other horses are measured in, but in inches). The British Shetland's characteristics include short sturdy legs, a thick, dense coat, small, dished face, large, wide set ears and small, alert ears. They have a strong, stocky body and a short, thick neck. Known for their strength, they were originally used for carry peat from the peat bogs and pulling ploughs in the field. However, when laws changed prohibiting the use of children down the coal mines the shetland ponies were imported into Britain to become "pit ponies" and lived their whole lives underground. There is also a society in America called the Shetland Pony Society of North America (SPSNA) which caters for the original shetland pony breed.

The American Shetland Pony

A more refined pony altogether, the American Shetland Pony is the result of 150 years of breeding by crossing the usual shetland with a Hackney pony and can be up to 46" high. This resultant cross results in a shetland pony with longer legs and thinner neck with a longer head, the coat is also much finer. There is a dedicated American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) in North America. . The American shetland pony is more likely to be found in harness.
Both types of Shetland can be any colour.