Hokkaido Pony
Encyclopedia
The Hokkaido pony, generally called Do-san-ko as a term of endearment, is an old but rare breed of pony
native to Japan
.
from Honshū
by fishermen during the Edo period
(1600–1867). The fishermen came to Hokkaido in search of herring
and the ponies were used for transportation, but were left in Hokkaido when the fishermen returned home in Autumn. The ponies were expected to survive without assistance in a land with very little vegetation and covered with snow throughout the winter, with the exception of bamboo
grass found in the mountains. The fishermen would return in spring with new ponies and would also use the surviving ponies. The enduring strength for which the Hokkaido pony is now known is thought to have been developed in this way.
The Hokkaido pony is considered a descendant of the Nanbu horse, a breed which is thought to have been bred in Tohoku, the northern region of Honshū. However, the Nanbu breed no longer exists and there is no definitive information on its history. This is because the Nanbu horse was historically renowned as a military horse
and was heavily crossbred during the late 19th century to develop a larger breed suitable for the military. It is thought that the animals brought to Hokkaido by fishermen were considered to be of inferior quality among the Nanbu breed, as the fishermen did not intend to bring them back.
The largest population of this breed is found on the Pacific coast of Hokkaido. They are the most plentiful of the remaining ancient Japanese ponies, numbering at around 2000. Hokkaido ponies are used for heavy transportation in the mountains where trucks and other equipment cannot go. Some ranch
ers in Hokkaido still winter the horses in the mountains, continuing the breed's hardiness. They feed mainly on bamboo grass and wander around in the mountains in search of it. In spring they return to the ranches without assistance as during this time the bears awaken from hibernation in the mountains and start to prey on the foal
s.
. White markings
of any kind are rare and not allowed for registration. They stand between 13 and 13.2 hands
high (132 to 137 cm). They are very strong for their size and have a willing temperament. They are also used as pleasure mounts or for transportation.
Pony
A pony is a small horse . Depending on context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. There are many different breeds...
native to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
History
The Hokkaido pony is thought to have been brought to HokkaidōHokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
from Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
by fishermen during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
(1600–1867). The fishermen came to Hokkaido in search of herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
and the ponies were used for transportation, but were left in Hokkaido when the fishermen returned home in Autumn. The ponies were expected to survive without assistance in a land with very little vegetation and covered with snow throughout the winter, with the exception of bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
grass found in the mountains. The fishermen would return in spring with new ponies and would also use the surviving ponies. The enduring strength for which the Hokkaido pony is now known is thought to have been developed in this way.
The Hokkaido pony is considered a descendant of the Nanbu horse, a breed which is thought to have been bred in Tohoku, the northern region of Honshū. However, the Nanbu breed no longer exists and there is no definitive information on its history. This is because the Nanbu horse was historically renowned as a military horse
Horses in warfare
The first use of horses in warfare occurred over 5,000 years ago. The earliest evidence of horses ridden in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons...
and was heavily crossbred during the late 19th century to develop a larger breed suitable for the military. It is thought that the animals brought to Hokkaido by fishermen were considered to be of inferior quality among the Nanbu breed, as the fishermen did not intend to bring them back.
The largest population of this breed is found on the Pacific coast of Hokkaido. They are the most plentiful of the remaining ancient Japanese ponies, numbering at around 2000. Hokkaido ponies are used for heavy transportation in the mountains where trucks and other equipment cannot go. Some ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
ers in Hokkaido still winter the horses in the mountains, continuing the breed's hardiness. They feed mainly on bamboo grass and wander around in the mountains in search of it. In spring they return to the ranches without assistance as during this time the bears awaken from hibernation in the mountains and start to prey on the foal
Foal
A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...
s.
Breed Characteristics
As in other Japanese breeds, the Hokkaido pony is found in most solid colors, and many are roanRoan (horse)
Roan is a horse coat color pattern characterized by an even mixture of colored and white hairs on the body, while the head and "points"—lower legs, mane and tail—are more solid-colored. The roan pattern is dominantly-inherited, and is found in many horse breeds...
. White markings
Horse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
of any kind are rare and not allowed for registration. They stand between 13 and 13.2 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
high (132 to 137 cm). They are very strong for their size and have a willing temperament. They are also used as pleasure mounts or for transportation.