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• In A.D. 874, a group of Viking farmers left their homeland of Norway. They set sail toward the uninhabited island of Iceland, where they planned to make their new home. They left Norway because they did not want to be under the strict rule of King Harald Fairhair. The ships carried men, women, children, cattle and horses. The horses were the stocky, Germanic type. The settlers also brought another breed of horse to Iceland from the coasts of Ireland and Scotland. These horses were Celtic in origina. They were lighter and more refined that the Germanic horses. These two groups of horses produced offspring that are now know as Icelandic Ponies. They have been bred for over a thousand years in Iceland. About sixty thousand Icelandic Ponies live in Iceland today.
• Iceland is not a tropical paradise for these small horses. The climate is bitterly cold, and the land is barren. To survive, Icelandic Ponies have had to overcome an extremely hostile environment that includes cold temperatures, wind, rain, heavy snow and ice storms. This harsh environment, however, is the reason Icelandic Ponies have developed their extraordinary hardiness and undemanding nature. Because of their strength, Icelandic Ponies can be used for every type of heavy work. Yet, they are also important in the world of sports. They are fierce competitors in racing and dressage.
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