The Connemara Pony is Irelands only native breed. The pony is bred on all continents - except Antarctica. Legend says that Andalusian horses came from the wrecks of Spanish Armada ships and bred with the native Connemara horses. History: In the early 5th century B.C., the Connemara resembled a Shetland pony. Celtic raiders then bred the horses to the Spanish Jennet and the Irish Hobby (an extinct breed of horse - native to Ireland). Extensive crossbreeding eventually began to dilute the bloodlines . However, in 1923 the Connemara Pony Breeders Society was founded to preserve the breed type. The stud book was established in 1926. There are over 2,500 web sites dedicated to the breed across the world.
