Pony is one of the oldest breeds of ponies.
Its existence dates back some 2000 years to its native Shetland Islands, north of Scotland. The harsh climate and scarce vegetation of the islands helped make the pony the thrifty, hardy animals we still know today. They were used for packing peat in the Islands and as riding mounts for adults. Shetlands served as pit ponies until as recently as the 1970s. In the 1800s breeders began exporting ponies to the United States.