Timor Pony
 | It has been suggested that Flores pony be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2008. |
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| Country of origin | Indonesia |
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The Timor Pony was developed on Timor Island, likely from Indian breeds of horses and ponies that were imported to the island. It is used by the local people for cattle work, which it does well, as well as riding, driving, and light farm work. Many of these ponies have been exported to Australia, where they have had an influence on the breeding of the Australian Pony.
Timor Ponies are strong, frugal, and agile, and have a quiet and willing temperament. The ponies have a narrow frame, short back, muscular neck, prominent withers, and a sloping croup. The shoulders tend to be straight, but the legs and feet are strong. The ponies usually stand 10 to 12 hands high, and are usually brown, black, and bay, but a few are gray.
In addition to the Timor pony, there are eight other breeds native to the islands that make up Indonesia, the Batak Pony, Gayoe, Deli pony, Bali Pony, Java Pony, and three breeds so closely related that there is debate over whether they are one, two or three, the "Sumba and Sumbawa Pony" and the closely related Sandalwood Pony.[1]
References
- ^ "Races de chevaux et d'équidés" Lexique du cheval! (Includes English section) Web page accessed December 8, 2007
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That the Timor Pony has been part of Australian life for many decades is evidenced by a reference to the Timor Pony in Banjo Patterson's famous poem The Man from Snowy River written in1890. In this poem the pony is given the attributes of great courage and persistence. Stories about a number of residents of Pt Phillip who have shown courage and persistence in their support of East Timor for up to thirty five years are being collected on http://www.suaimediaspace.org.