The Connemara pony
The Connemara Pony Breeders' Society has its base in Clifden, and the town's sales in February, May, August and October are the largest in Ireland for the breed. The pony itself is the only one native to the country, a hardy, strong animal made by a hard landscape, and now a sports pony ridden by children and adults across the world.
Checked against the source on 2026-09-19.
Satu Pitkänen, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Connemara Pony Breeders Society on the 3D model; tap a pin for its page and directions.
Where the breed came from
The pony first became recognised as a distinct type in Connemara, and the harshness of the country is credited with its toughness. It is often thought to descend from Norse forebears of the Icelandic pony brought by the Vikings, with the Irish Hobby, a breed extinct since before the thirteenth century, another likely source. Trade with Spain is recorded from the twelfth century, and the likeness between the Hobby and the Spanish Jennet supports the belief that Spanish ponies went into the mix as well.
The standard and the sales
The Breeders' Society of Ireland sets the standard, which the British society also uses: adults of 128 to 148 centimetres, a strong back, loins and quarters, deep through the ribs, a well laid-back riding shoulder and a well-set neck without undue crest; a pony head, broad between large kind eyes, with a refined jaw and short ears. Today it is above all a sports pony, competitive in show jumping, dressage and eventing with the stamina for endurance riding, and shown in harness. The Clifden sales run four times a year and are streamed online for buyers abroad.
Questions people ask
How big is a Connemara pony?
When are the Connemara pony sales in Clifden?
Is the Connemara the only Irish pony breed?
Written from Wikipedia, "Connemara pony" (CC BY-SA 4.0), read on 2026-09-19, and from the OpenStreetMap places on the model. Nothing has been added from memory; follow the source for its footnotes.