The Icelandic Pony That Wanted to Be a Horse

After sheep, another animal very important to the life of Icelanders is the pony. It was bred in Iceland and, like the sheep, adapted very well to the conditions prevailing on the island.

These animals live very long and are resistant to the prevailing weather conditions. They are still used for traditional farm work as well as for recreation and racing. They were brought over by the Vikings at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries. Since then, selective breeding has been carried out, which led to the creation of the Icelandic horse.

These animals have a double coat, similar to the sheep, which helps them survive the harsh winters in Iceland. This breed also doesn't require a large amount of food. This is a very useful trait, especially when the meadows are covered in volcanic dust. In Iceland this happens very often, which makes the animals' access to food difficult for many months.

Natural selection was also very important in the formation of the Icelandic pony breed. The harsh climate, cold and hunger meant that many weak foals did not survive. In 1783 and 1784, about 70% of the horses in Iceland were killed by volcanic ash, poisoning and hunger after the eruption of Lakagígar. The eruption lasted eight months, hundreds of square kilometres of land were covered with lava, and many rivers changed their course or dried up.

Icelandic law forbids importing horses into the country, and those that have been taken out may no longer return. Thanks to this, the ponies practically never get sick.

Many registries and breeders refer to Icelandic ponies as horses.