For hundreds of years, horses have played an important part of life in Scotland. Horses and ponies have been bred for pulling carts, plowing fields, and working in coal mines. Five Scottish horse and pony breeds still around today are the Clydesdale, Shetland Pony, Highland Pony, Eriskay Pony, and Garron.

Five Scottish horse and pony breeds still around today are the Clydesdale, Shetland Pony, Highland Pony, Eriskay Pony, and Garron. Though many of Scotland’s horse and pony breeds are rare, many avid equestrians are working to preserve these magnificent breeds. Here are 6 native Scottish horse breeds. 1. Clydesdale

The Highland Pony is a native Scottish pony, and is one of the largest of the mountain and moorland pony breeds of the British Isles. Its pedigree dates back to the 1880s. It was once a workhorse in the Scottish mainland and islands, but today is used for driving, trekking and general riding.

According to the International Museum of the Horse, there aren’t many early records that are relevant for the Highland Pony. Since it is difficult to determine the breed’s exact history, it is unknown if wild horses arrived in Scotland when the last glaciers receded some 10,000 years ago, or whether they were brought by prehistoric people.