As Ireland's only indigenous breed, the Connemara certainly lives up to its origins by being a friendly but feisty show pony. The Connemara, though small, is built for jumping. The hindquarters are well-formed and muscular, sporting a showman's high-set tail. The hock joints are strong and give the horse a natural galloping and jumping ability, while the shoulders are perfect for riding, giving the horse its natural talent.

Thanks to Arabian and Barb influence on the breed, believed to have been introduced during Celt invasions, the Connemara has emerged as a true performance pony. Not only is it used as a show jumper, but also in cross-country, pleasure riding, and in harness. Though the Connemara is technically a pony, it is strong enough and large enough to carry full-size adults with little difficulty. And, thanks to its rough and rocky natural habitat, the Connemara evolved as a hardy and robust breed.

Taking its name from a section of Ireland on the west coast, the Connemara, like its namesake, is tough and staying. Before the arrival of the Celts in the fifth and sixth centuries BC, they would have been similar to the ponies that can be found in Norway or Iceland. However, the introduction of eastern blood would have altered the breed tremendously.

Due to impoverishment in the nineteenth century, the breed deteriorated immensely. But, thanks to a government commission set up to research and address the issue of horse breeding in Ireland, the Connemara emerged again and was improved. The official English Connemara Pony Society was set up in 1947 and is still thriving today.

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