78 PONIES — THEIE DIFFEKENT BREEDS. 



repute or in general use in the North. They are of all 

 colors, — lirowns, bays, blacks, sorrels, duns, and, by no 

 means unfrequently, piebalds, which is an extremely ple- 

 beian color, and which most certainly implies a deteriora- 

 tion of blood from the Oriental or desert type. When it 

 is seer in domestication, it is held to imply a cross of tha 

 Hanoverian or Pomeranian horse, both of which run to ■ 

 fancy colors, spots and piebalds. 



The pony of the northern Indians, prevailing from Can- 

 ada downward, west of the lakes, over the Upper Missis- 

 sippi country, is a totally distinct animal. He rarely exceeds 

 thirteen, never fourteen hands, and is a veritable pony — 

 short-barreled, round-ribbed, strong-limbed, short and thick- 

 necked, with legs, fetlocks and feet literally of iron. Hi? 

 legs are covered with thick hair, his mane is almost as 

 voluminous as that of a lion, often falling on both sides of 

 his neck, while the forelock covers his eyes, and his tail is 

 heavy and waved like that of the Canadian. In one word, 

 he is the pure Norman war-horse of the largest, oldest, 

 coarsest and most massive type, razeed into a pony. We 

 are not aware that there is any history or tradition as to his 

 origin, but we cannot doubt that he is nothing more or 

 less than the original Norman horse of the Canadas, de- 

 generated in size but in no other respect, by ages of neglect, 

 misuse, scanty sustenance, want of shelter, and cruel usage, 

 generation after generation. We doubt not they co,uld be 

 bred up in size by judicious treatment. As it is, however, 

 they are in every respect but size and great speed all that 

 can be desired. They aie as sure-footed and as easily fed 

 as mules, and, fifty to one, more enduring of cold. At 

 their own pace, from five to seven miles an hour, they will 

 jog along, perfectly unwearied, for fifty miles a day, week 

 after week, with a load of one hundred and sixty pounds 

 on their saddle, or three hundred in a wagon behind them, 



