Over the centuries various reports and descriptions of the Shetland pony refer to its small stature, strength, hardiness and longevity.

The harsh winters of the Shetland Islands with little feed due not to the neglect of owners but to the difficulties of available fodder for even their sheep and cattle is surely the reason for the hardiness and purity of the breed, only the toughest surviving successive winters to breed.  The photograph at the left depicts Shetland women on their way to market with their ponies circa 1900.

No place in Shetland is further than four miles from the sea and it is legendary that during the worst winters lack of grazing on the scathold would drive some ponies to forage for seaweed along the shores.

The ponies however were not small due to sparse living conditions but rather it was the small pony that was able to survive this, whereas larger horses did not. Shetland Ponies bred in milder climates which are given ample food do not increase in size at all.

Various stories about the ponies strength are legendary - for their size they are the strongest of all the horse breeds. For centuries the Shetland pony cultivated the land, carried the peat from the scatholds and seaweed for the fields, and was used to transport his owner.

The Shetland pony was never a draught animal until the mid 19th century as there were no proper roads until then. The horse owning fisherman was able to use hair from the ponies tails for his lines.Due to its island existence the Shetland pony has evolved with relatively few importations and those that did arrive, were by necessity small, owing to the difficulties of transportation by sea.

Two significant types established themselves within the breed, the heavier boned animal with a longer head and the lighter one with high tail carriage and small pretty head, and these have remained distinct characteristics which has stood the Shetland Pony in very good stead for its changing roles in the service of mankind.