What happened to the Pony?

 newfoundland Ponies - what you need to know. 

    Though they were beloved by many Newfoundlanders, the pony was commonplace in their insular world. Hardy, docile, capable, genetically strong and diverse, it’s significance beyond the ocean’s edge was not apparent to those who lived amongst them, nor was it apparent to many outside of that world . 
       As machinery replaced the pony, they fell out of favor. By-laws were enacted limiting breeding and availability of pasturing. Sadly, many Newfoundland ponies met their end at off-island slaughterhouses, believed by some to be sent off to good homes and believed by others to be worth more dead than alive.
     Under the radar, the pony’s numbers went from thousands to roughly a few hundred rather quickly. Were it not for certain individuals who but a few decades ago jumped in to gather up the small band of ponies on it’s gallop down the road to extinction, the Newfoundland pony would be lost today. Man then became the key to the survival of this pony that was once the key to man’s survival in this “New Founde Lande".
     Since 1979, the Newfoundland Pony  Society in Newfoundland, Canada registers qualifying Newfoundland Ponies across North America.  The Society is the only official registry, as such designated by Government of Newfoundland legislation to be responsible for maintaining and safeguarding all registration records as an integral part of their mandate to preserve and protect this heritage animal. 
                                                                                                                                     Photo courtesy of the Newfoundland Pony Society
© Emily Chetkowski 2018