The Taishu Pony was one of the most widely bred horses in Japan. They are very small and possess a large head on a neck that is carried horizontally. You can find the Taishu Pony in colors of brown, bay, chestnut, cremello, and roan. Their sometimes primitive shape is accented by a black dorsal stripe running down the back. The mane is thick and flowing and the hooves are tough and hardy.

This rugged, yet calm breed was a favorite mount of farmer’s wives and their children. They are quite rare, yet they are still used for light draft and riding. There are many people working tirelessly to replenish the Taishu Pony's numbers and return the breed to its former stature through carefully regimented breeding programs. Today, these animals can still be used for packing, in harness, and under saddle, but their rare status ensures that they are carefully protected and managed.

The feral Taishu Ponies are being watched in the wild. Though descendant from the first horses brough to Japan in the third century, this breed of horse first appeared in 1697 when the Akizuki family took animals that were grazing wild in their lands and created a stud farm. They rounded them up once a year to pick out the best and maintain the herd. The same system is still in place today. The breed has been designated a National Natural Treasure and there are less than a hundred left in the primary herd.

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Taishu Pony - Horses for Sale