Dartmoor and Exmoor Ponies

People usually look up Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies for one of two reasons: they’ve seen small, sturdy ponies roaming open moorland in south-west England, or they’re considering a native British pony for riding, driving, trekking or conservation grazing. The details matter, because these are two distinct breeds with different standards—especially around height and colour.

Below is a clear, practical guide to what Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies are, how to tell them apart, what sort of care they need, and what’s actually meant by “wild” ponies on the moors.

Quick facts: Dartmoor pony vs Exmoor pony

• Origin: South-west England (Dartmoor in Devon; Exmoor across Devon and Somerset)^{1, 2}
• Height: Dartmoor—must not exceed 12.2hh (127 cm)¹; Exmoor—typically around 11.2–12.3hh, with breed guidance commonly setting mares to 12.2hh and stallions/geldings to 12.3hh^{2, 3}
• Colour: Dartmoor—bay, brown, black, grey, chestnut or roan; broken colours not allowed; some white can be acceptable but excessive white is discouraged¹
• Colour: Exmoor—brown/bay or dun, with distinctive “mealy” (pale) markings; no white markings are accepted in the stud book^{2, 3}
• Lifespan: Often mid‑20s, with good care commonly 25+ years (individual variation is normal)⁴
• Common uses: Riding (often for children and smaller adults), driving, showing, trekking; both breeds also appear in conservation grazing settings^{1, 2, 4}

Two breeds, one landscape

“Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies” are often mentioned together because they share the same broad corner of Britain and the same moorland look: compact bodies, thick coats, hard feet, and a steady way of moving across rough ground. But they are separate native breeds with separate societies and standards.^{1, 2}

History and origin

The Dartmoor pony is the native pony breed of Devon, with long records of ponies living on Dartmoor’s high ground and being shaped by the climate and sparse grazing.⁵

Exmoor ponies are associated with Exmoor’s commons and open moor, where managed herds still roam. Written records of ponies on Exmoor go back many centuries, and modern herds continue under clear ownership and management rather than being truly wild.²

How to tell them apart in the paddock (or on the moor)

Dartmoor pony: what stands out

Dartmoors are pony-sized and “workmanlike”, but with a refined, riding-pony feel: a small head, alert ears, a generous ribcage, and strong limbs with hard, well-shaped feet.¹

• Height limit: must not exceed 12.2hh (127 cm).¹
• Colours allowed: bay, brown, black, grey, chestnut, roan. Broken colours (piebald/skewbald/spotted) are not allowed.¹
• White markings: some white has historically been acceptable, though heavy white is discouraged in the breed standard.¹

Exmoor pony: what stands out

Exmoors have a more uniformly “primitive” look. The classic Exmoor colour is brown (a dark bay variant), often with mealy markings around the eyes and muzzle and on the underparts. Breed descriptions emphasise that white markings are not accepted for registration.^{2, 3}

• Colour and markings: brown/bay or dun, with mealy (buff) areas around eyes, muzzle and underparts; darker points (mane, tail, legs).²
• No white: white markings are not accepted for stud book registration.³
• Seasonal coat: a fine summer coat, and a thick winter coat well suited to wet, windy uplands.²

Habitat, distribution, and what “wild” really means

Both breeds are closely linked to moorland—open, windswept country with thin soils and patchy grazing. That’s why they tend to be economical to keep compared with some larger horse types, but it’s also why weight can creep on quickly when they move to richer pasture.

On Exmoor, the ponies people see on the open moor are typically part of managed herds grazing the commons. They may look wild, but they belong to someone and are brought in seasonally for checks and management.²

Temperament and trainability

Dartmoor ponies are widely valued as sensible all-rounders, often chosen as children’s ponies because they combine hardiness with a tractable nature when well handled and trained.^{4, 5}

Exmoors are also used under saddle and in harness. Their steadiness tends to show in the way they travel—economical, direct, and comfortable over distance—especially when they’ve been brought on with patient, consistent handling.³

Care and management: what matters most

Feeding

Start with forage. Good-quality hay and/or appropriately managed grazing is the base for most ponies, with hard feed added only when there’s a clear need (workload, growth, pregnancy, poor condition, or veterinary guidance).

Weight and laminitis risk

Many native ponies are “good doers”. On improved pasture they can gain weight quickly, which raises the risk of laminitis. Regular body condition scoring, sensible grazing management, and steady exercise are the quiet foundations of prevention.⁶

Hooves, teeth, and routine health

• Feet: even with naturally hard hooves, ponies still need regular farrier trimming (or shoeing where appropriate) to maintain balance and prevent cracks and lameness.
• Teeth: routine dental checks help prevent weight loss, quidding, and bitting discomfort.
• Vaccination and worm control: follow local veterinary advice and use targeted parasite control based on risk and testing.

Conservation grazing: why ponies are used

Hardy native ponies can be useful conservation grazers because they cope with coarse, low-nutrient vegetation and can help keep some habitats open. The exact outcomes depend on stocking rate, season, and what the site is trying to achieve—grazing is a tool, not a guarantee.⁷

Challenges for populations

These breeds are culturally familiar, but that doesn’t always mean they are numerically secure. Breed organisations and conservation bodies monitor numbers and promote responsible breeding to maintain genetic diversity and keep the ponies visible in their working and recreational roles.⁸

On open-access moorland, everyday pressures also matter: road traffic, gates left open, and inappropriate feeding can all cause harm. On Exmoor, the National Park specifically advises people not to feed or touch the ponies and to take care when driving on moorland roads.²

Choosing between a Dartmoor and an Exmoor

If you’re buying or leasing, start by deciding whether you need a registered animal to a specific breed standard (for showing or breeding), or a pony-type that simply suits your riding and management set-up.

• Choose Dartmoor if you want a native riding pony with a breed standard that allows a wider range of solid colours and limited white, and you prefer the more “riding-pony” outline described in the breed standard.¹
• Choose Exmoor if you’re drawn to the primitive colouring and mealy markings, want a pony strongly associated with living out, and you’re comfortable with a stricter standard on colour and the absence of white markings.^{2, 3}

Final thoughts

Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies are shaped by the same sort of country: open, wet, windy uplands where survival rewards thrift, balance and tough feet. Get the basics right—forage-first feeding, weight control, steady handling, and routine hoof and health care—and either breed can be a calm, capable partner for years.

References

1. Dartmoor Pony Society – The Breed Standard of the Dartmoor Pony
2. Exmoor National Park Authority – Exmoor Ponies
3. Oklahoma State University – Breeds of Livestock: Exmoor Pony
4. PetMD – Dartmoor Pony (care overview and lifespan snapshot)
5. Dartmoor Pony Society of America – The Dartmoor Pony (history overview)
6. RSPCA – Laminitis in horses and ponies
7. NatureScot – Grazing management for conservation (guidance)
8. Rare Breeds Trust of Australia – Dartmoor Pony (breed overview and conservation context)
9. Rare Breeds Survival Trust (UK) – Exmoor Pony (Watchlist entry)