Stallion PALADIUM (Iratzia / Horda)

    The Pottok pony is in fact a small horse, native of the southwest of France.
    It's origins are not well known.

    The one thing which is certain is that this pony has lived and bred in the Basques mountains for a very long time. Prehistoric engravings were found in caves of the Basque country, in both France and Spain.

    In France, some breeders think that the Pottok is the origin of the colored horses of America. They would have been imported by Spanish navigators during the 16th and 17th century, as pack-horses.
    The legend of Chincoteague Island ponies might be issued from this reality.

    One thing for sure, is that in France some of these ponies were used for smuggling trade between France and Spain whilst others were used to haul wagons in coal-mines in Italy or northern France.
    But most of these ponies remained free in Basques mountains.
    This wild life has given them a hardiness and robustness which makes them capable of managing for themselves in the most extreme conditions.

    The many uses of this breed prove his great faculty of adaptation.

    The Pottok pony has been recognized by the French administration since 1970 and a stud-book was created. His particularity is to be double.
    The A-book for the thoroughbred and the B-book for the ponies issued from a crossing between a Pottok mare and an arabian stallion or Welsh pony B.

    Horda by Lebeau and Griza (photo above) is a good morphological example of Pottok A. This Dam was second (of mares class) on National Pony Show in 1977.

    The average height for females and geldings is from 115 to 147 cm, and for
colts and stallions from 120 to 147 cm.

    Most of the Pottok registered in the Stud-book A, live in the mountains and are about 130 / 132 (and less ) centimeters high.

    The tallest Pottok ponies are registered in Stud-book B, especially when issued by Arabian stallion. They also have a more athletic morphology.

Urt de Chahatoa

    Today, the Pottok are bred by many breeders throughout France. This pony is mainly used for pleasure riding, but some breeders take their favorite ponies to compete in jumping, dressage, driving, cross country and endurance… with success and honor.

Falster de la Noue

Flipper de la Noue

    With a long history, kind and easygoing nature when raised by conscientious breeders, the Pottok is a real " Family " pony.

Pony-Pottok on web :

Text : PUBERT Christian
Photograph : "Urt ": J. Pavlovsky / Others : PUBERT Christian