On the windswept shores of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, a small, silver-grey pony stands as one of the last living links to the nation’s crofting heritage.
The Eriskay pony, once the indispensable workhorse of island life, is now teetering on the brink of extinction – with only around 300 left in the world. Tough, intelligent and remarkably gentle, these ponies carried peat, seaweed and people across rugged terrain for centuries.
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Today, conservationists and islanders are fighting to ensure that this resilient native breed doesn’t disappear into history.
Learn all about them in our expert guide from the Eriskay Pony Society.
What does the Eriskay pony look like?
Eriskay ponies have a surprisingly elegant and athletic appearance, which belies their immense strength for their size. Their legs are fine, with neat feet and only a small tuft of hair at the fetlock. Their mane and tail are usually long and flowing, to help shed the rain from the Atlantic gales.
The predominant colour is grey with the occasional black or bay, no other colours normally occur. It has a dense waterproof coat in winter and the ability to thrive on rough grazing and harsh habitats.
How big is it?
The Eriskay pony stands at 12.0 to 13.2 hands high (124 to 138 cm).
What's its character like?
The Eriskay pony is compact, hardy and intelligent and likes to form a close bond with its rider or handler. It will turn its hoof to dressage, jumping, cross-country, trec, agility, endurance, driving, hacking and trail-riding – and is also used for therapy and riding for people who are disabled.
Is it a good pony for children?
Yes. They are popular as Pony Club ponies, taking part in activities including jumping, games, tetrathlon and dressage. They are very people-friendly and love to have a job to do. They are intelligent, inquisitive, quick to learn and have been noted to take great care of the children riding them.
How does it differ to the UK's other native ponies?
Eriskay ponies are the last surviving remnant of the original native ponies of the Western Isles of Scotland and are a living link to Scotland's heritage. The Eriskay Pony was vital for croft work, transport, and carrying peat and seaweed.
Adapted to the harsh Hebridean weather, the breed can thrive outdoors on rough terrain. They are immensely strong for their size and can carry a light adult with ease.
Foals are often born black or bay and usually turn grey as they mature, although a few individuals remain black or bay into adulthood.
There has been a recent genomic assessment of the breed, carried out by Nottingham Trent University, that showed that the Eriskay is a unique breed, which is unrelated to other UK native mountain and moorland ponies.
This study, which used data from around a third of the population, provided valuable information crucial to the efforts to promote and preserve the breed.
How old is the breed?
There have been original native ponies in the Western Isles of Scotland for hundreds, if not thousands of years but the name Eriskay pony has only been used for around 55 years.
Eriskay pony decline
Until the middle of the 19th century, ponies were found throughout Scotland’s Outer Hebrides where they were used as crofters’ ponies, undertaking everyday tasks such as bringing home peat and seaweed in basket-work creels slung over their backs, pulling carts, harrowing and even taking the children to school.
On many islands, increasing mobility and farming pressures led to larger ponies becoming fashionable. However, on the remote island of Eriskay, due to difficulties with access and the extra cost implications for sustaining larger animals, other breeds were not introduced, leaving a stock of pure-bred ponies that, with increasing mechanisation, had declined to around 20 animals by the early 1970s.
How many are left in the world?
There are around 300 Eriskay ponies in the world. The breed is found only in the UK, apart from a couple in both France and Ireland.
What is being done to try and save the breed?
The Eriskay Pony Society works closely with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and uses SPARKS (genetic breeding advice) to help slow the rate of inbreeding.
This allows breeders to identify, then prioritise, the best matches between stallion and mare, which are then supported by a breeding grant scheme. This is aimed at increasing the numbers of foals born each year and retaining diversity.
The Eriskay breed is classified as a 'Priority' on the RBST Watchlist.
