The Lundy pony is compact and sturdily built with muscular necks, short backs, short legs, a deep girth, and an overall square frame. They were bred originally by crossing New Forest pony mares with an Arabian stallion. Lundy Ponies are usually dun in colour, but can also be bay, brown, roan, or occasionally chestnut.

Martin Coles Harman took 34 New Forest mares and 8 filly foals to Lundy in 1928. They were released above half way wall and allowed to roam the island freely alongside a flock of rare Soay sheep, a herd of Sika deer and a few feral goats.

In 1930, a Welsh Mountain stallion was taken over to the island and most of the mares produced foals. The offspring were mostly roan in colour (as the stallion was strawberry roan), the others were dun and a few palomino. Unfortunately the stallion passed away in the spring of 1932 and so two of his colts, one dun and one roan, were kept and the herd split; the dun, named Pepper, with the majority of the mares and the roan with some at the north of the island. The roan became troublesome and was sold on which left Pepper with the herd until war broke out in 1939. During the war, none of the ponies could be shipped off the island and, as they were not managed, the herd grew enormously and resulted in a considerable amount of fighting between the colts. Pepper lost the majority of his mares to a stronger stallion, Midnight, and he was allowed to succeed Pepper who left the island in 1951 at the age of 29. After the war, the herd was reduced when at least 40 ponies were sold and in 1955 only 20 ponies remained on the island.

Since 1955, new stallions have been introduced to the herd to ensure that there is no inbreeding and the genetics remain healthy.

In 1980 the National Trust, who were managing the land, unfortunately made the decision to remove the entire herd. Most of the herd was moved to Cornwall and Devon to continue breeding.

The Landmark Trust ensured that a few of these ponies were returned to the island at a later date so current numbers are around 20, with numbers being maintained and replenished by stock from the mainland.

The conservation status is officially unclear and undocumented. There is very limited information available on these ponies.

The Lundy Pony Preservation Society formed in 1974 unfortunately no longer exists.

From Wikipedia, 20th April 2025

[Image from wiki]

https://horsebreedslist.com/lundy-pony/

https://lundy.org.uk/12-basic-page?start=28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tME9j4xBFRw

https://janebadgerbooks.co.uk/victoria-eveleigh-on-midnight-on-lundy/