Campaign to safeguard Dartmoor’s iconic Hill Ponies gains fresh momentum

Efforts to protect the Dartmoor Hill Pony, one of England’s last semi-wild native herds, were given renewed backing recently as Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard and Drake Ward councillor Charlotte Holloway joined campaigners and ecologist Adrian Colston to discuss their future.

The group met at Powdermills Pottery before heading onto the moor to see the ponies, which have roamed Dartmoor for centuries and play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and landscape resilience. The ponies’ grazing helps maintain habitats for rare ground-nesting birds, butterflies, and plants, making them a cornerstone of Dartmoor’s fragile ecosystem.

The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association (DHPA), led by chair Charlotte Faulkner, has long campaigned for the ponies’ survival. Numbers have declined in recent decades due to changing farming economics, reduced grazing rights, and, more recently, reforms to the agricultural support system introduced by the last government. These changes altered the subsidies linked to pony grazing, raising fears that hundreds of animals could be lost.

Last year, Luke, Charlotte and Exeter MP Steve Race successfully intervened to stop a planned cull of Dartmoor ponies following urgent talks with ministers and campaigners. They are now pressing for long-term protections to secure the herd’s future.

Research for Plymouth City Council’s Plan for Nature and People has shown Dartmoor is the most cherished natural landscape for Plymothians outside the city – and the ponies are central to its identity.

Luke Pollard MP said:
“Dartmoor is one of Devon’s most special places and the Hill Ponies are central to its story, ecology, and future. If we lose them, we don’t just lose a part of our heritage, we risk damaging the biodiversity and resilience of Dartmoor itself. I’m proud to stand with the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association to safeguard these ponies for generations to come.”

DHPA Chair Charlotte Faulkner added:
“We are grateful to Luke Pollard MP and Cllr Charlotte Holloway for showing their support for the Dartmoor Hill Pony – one of the rarest and most ancient recognised pony populations in the world. These ponies are not just a symbol of Dartmoor, they are part of its living heritage and vital to its biodiversity and landscape management. As future decisions are taken about grazing, it is important that the unique role of the ponies is fully recognised and protected.”

Cllr Charlotte Holloway said:
“Dartmoor belongs to all of us – it is part of our identity as Devonians. Families from Plymouth and across the county treasure days on the moor, and at the heart of that experience are the Dartmoor Hill Ponies. Protecting them isn’t just about heritage, it’s about making sure the moor we pass on is richer, more resilient, and still alive with these iconic animals. I was proud to work with Luke and Steve Race MP to prevent a cull last year, and I will keep working with local people, conservationists and policymakers to ensure the Dartmoor Hill Pony thrives long into the future.”

The Dartmoor Hill Pony is considered one of the most ancient recognised pony populations in the world, with archaeological evidence suggesting that similar ponies grazed the moor as far back as the Bronze Age. Today, their survival rests on a delicate balance of conservation, farming policy, and community action.