SHETLAND AND WELSH PONIES. 231 



V 



ing m some instances at least a varietal if not 

 a specific cliaracteristic. 



Britain has many, and all northern Europe 

 IS studded with different breeds and types Asia 

 possesses many distinct sorts and even South 

 Africa has its peculiar variety. In Canada and 

 the United States the various pony strains, 

 such as the Chmcoteague and Sable Island, can 



homo?ntf' '*^ f '^'l'^^' ^^""''Sii distinguishing 

 homologous character is becoming more 

 marked. These American strains arf Zely 

 degenerate horse reduced in size and altered 

 m conformation to suit their environment 



TT f i lu°f "^ ?^ "*" ^^® breeds of ponies in the 

 United States is the Shetland. This breed is 

 indigenous to the Shetland Isles, lying oi¥ the 

 extreme north coast of Scotland and distant not 

 much over 350 miles from the Arctic circle 

 How long these ponies have existed on those 

 islands history does not record, nor yet tradi- 

 tion, but we have authoritative statement that 



nTzon ""R^'^'r *^'^" P^'^^^t ''^'' °r smaller, 



Dosed bV S^^f '**-"f "^ •'<'°«*''^t hardships im-' 

 posed by nature in her most unrelenting mood 



about'hal ,f °^'^' "T " ^^^ first wriS 

 about has been famous for its utility, strength 

 and endurance. Its original use was for riding 

 statur?r.^ T'^ ^^ '''^ P^^«' -'>^re its small 

 thread H.fl P^^^^''?^' "^^^"^^"^ ^^^bled it to 

 of cTal fo'thHhfa "" '''' '^^-^ ''^'' -'^'^* 

 Extremely docile in temperament, the Shet- 

 land was early transplanted to the richer en- 



