Welsh Ponies and Cobs

Welsh ponies and cobs are one of the world's best loved breeds.  You will find them in every corner of the world from the coldest of regions to the deserts of South Africa.  They combine hardiness, uncommon beauty, exceptional movement and the best of temperament.  This makes them a pleasure to own and enjoy for all ages.

American breeders imported Welsh Ponies as early as the 1880s.  George E. Brown of Aurora, Illinois appears to have been one of the first real Welsh enthusiasts, importing a large number of animals between 1884 and 1910.  Principally through his efforts and those of John Alexander, The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America was formed and certification for the establishment of a breed registry was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1907.

Today, over 34,000 Welsh ponies have been registered in America. Each of these are descended directly and entirely from animals registered with the Welsh Pony and Cob Society in Wales.  Although the numbers of the Welsh Pony of Cob Type and the Welsh Cob are relatively small in the United States compared to their cousins the Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A) and the Welsh Pony (Section B), their numbers are increasing yearly with new foals born and importation from the UK.

Welsh Ponies were recognised in Great Britain as early as 55BC when Julius Caesar.  He wrote about their speed and docility as Chariot horses and their activity as Riding horses.  In the hundreds of years that followed the ponies were persecuted for their small size and tendency to encroach on the grazing of the lowland farmers, but this persecution which chased them back into the harsh hill country led to the development of a very hardy pony with plenty of bone, a thick mane and tail and lots of feather.

What is the difference in sections
A, B, C, and D?

Section A ponies

Section B Ponies

Section C Ponies of Cob Type

Section D Cobs

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updated 1-14-00, 4-22-05