THE AMERICAN TROTTING-HORSE. 181 



events narrated or predicted, it is invariably ponies 

 that are going to figure, and wonderfully good time 

 the little ones make, exhibiting speed, stoutness, and 

 endurance that is truly wonderful, But where do the 

 most of our ponies come from? Devonshire, Wales, 

 Shetland, Orkney Islands, Connemara, the wilds of 

 Donegal and Antrim. Now on the coast of each place 

 mentioned, portions of the Spanish Armada were 

 wrecked ; a large force of cavalry doubtlessly formed 

 a part of that fortunately ill-fated expedition, and is it 

 not more than probable that many horses reached the 

 shore ? If so, these ponies have Spanish blood, and 

 by that link are connected with the Barb, their 

 present diminutive size being the result of severe 

 climate, exposure, scarcity of food, and possibly want 

 of housing in winter. The wild horse of America has 

 also become smaller than his ancestors, but not to so 

 great an extent, from his range lying many degrees of 

 latitude nearer the equator. 



Further, all the above-mentioned places celebrated 

 for ponies are rough, irregular, and rocky in their 

 surface. Those who may be disinclined to acknowl- 

 edge the Spanish origin or connection of our ponies 

 may be disposed to think their trotting action is 

 induced from the pamo reason that I attribute to the 



