WHY WAS IT FORMED

The Australian Palouse Pony Association was formed at a meeting of interested persons during June, 1974.

It was formed to create a registry for the coloured ponies which had been bred with the upsurge of the popularity of the Appaloosa Horse. Because of a height limit these ponies could not be registered as Appaloosas and so was born a breed association now known as the Australian Palouse Pony Association. The name Palouse was chosen as an original name which could not be confused with the Appaloosa Horse which is over 14 hands high, While the Palouse is under 14 hands high. Palouse was chosen as the name because it is the name of the valley and river in Idaho U.S.A. where the Nez Perce Indians bred the colourful horse which has since been popularised as the Appaloosa Horse while the pony is now known in Australia as the Palouse.

The Palouse Pony has been widely promoted as ‘the using Pony for the Youth’(that the whole family loves to ride and enjoy). The quiet disposition of the Palouse Pony makes him an ideal pony for youth, easy to handle, trustworthy while loaded with athletic ability.

Since 1974 the breed has improved greatly and is growing very rapidly with the importation of pony stallions and better care in selection of foundation mares. Progeny from Appaloosa Stallions and Mares are not recognised.

Many Palouse Pony Regional Branches have been formed throughout Australia so that the Association members can enjoy their colourful ponies in a club atmosphere, compete against each other and help promote and popularise the breed. Regional Branches usually arrange several shows a year, training days, social events and encourage interest in this colourful, versatile breed.

Members of the Palouse Pony Association annually elect Councillors who govern the policies and guide the organization. The Council elect officers and elect a Secretary to manage the affairs and the business details of the Association, and also a Registrar who is responsible for all records of registration, transfers and show results.

The big event of the each year is the National Show. It usually held around Easter Time at a venue considered to be central to all that wish to travel to it.

Further information can be sent to you about the Australian Palouse Pony, Membership of the Association, Regional Branches, The express magazine, and any other enquiry you may have. Simply E-mail, Phone or write to us. Our Contact details are available online.

HISTORY OF THE COLOURED PONY

Coloured ponies are not new to the horse world. The spotted ponies were originated by King Solomon. He was the man who perfected the first spotted ponies. They came about trying to breed pure white to pure white.

It has been proven by Mendall’s Theory that every fourth generation will mutate black spotting on white base. The original spotted pony as it is shown in early Greek cave drawings, was very small. These ponies were used on the first chariot drawings found . there have been a lot of stories told as to how the ponies of this colour and characteristic are to be found in different countries in Europe and Asia. King Solomon used these ponies as barter and traded them wherever ships of the time sailed.
The Greeks, we can believe, were the first to hook them to a wheeled vehicle. They found their use as war ponies so great that they used a very skilful breeding program to increase their confirmation and speed.

Emperor Wo Rai of China was so impressed with the spotted pony, that he purchased 3000 of them from the ruling Greek Emperor of that era. He made it a crime punishable by death for anyone in China to own one. He then crossed these ponies to his war ponies of that time, which we are to believe originated from Tarpan, an original wild horse.

The result of this cross was a larger pony and the colour pattern started its change to what we now recognize as the Appaloosa Horse. The roaning or bloodsweating as the Ancient Chinese called the patterned colours, also the dark base with the white blanket over hips and loins.

The transportation of these ponies over Europe came about with conquering hoards of Genghis Khan. He spread them into Spain and the Spaniards upgraded them some more into a larger horse by crossing them with their better and bigger horses.

The first spotted horse was brought to America by Cortez. The Chihua-hua Indian of Mexico carried on a very good breeding program of the spotted horse. They in turn traded them to different tribes along the Pacific Coast and The North west.

The Nez Perce Indians of Washington and Idaho carried on one of the best breeding programs of all North American Indians and improved the spotted breed to such intelligence and stamina, that they were able to flee from the U.S. Cavalry in their flight to Canada.

Like any other new breeds animals the foundation begins with one breed, such as the early coloured pony, which was used in a grading up program for many breeds such as Falabella, Krabstrup, Pinzgauer Noriker, Kanata Pony, Ponies of the Americas, English Spotted Horse and Pony, Appaloosa and now the Palouse Pony.

The Palouse Pony, as we know it today, has shown itself to have superior intelligence and such crowd pleasing colour patterns, that they will become the largest pony breed registry.

BREED STANDARD

DESCRIPTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN PALOUSE PONY

GENERAL APPEARANCE – of the Australian Palouse Pony should show style and substance, beauty and symmetry.

HEAD AND NECK– Showing style and character, the neck should be slightly arched and clear cut, with a distinctly defined throat latch. The head should be proportionate in size to the body, with clean cut features.
EYES– should be large, kind and permanent.

EARS– Should be medium in size pointedly alert and well carried.
Forehand – feet should be proportionate to size of pony, of good shape, wide and deep at the heels, legs in correct position front, side and rear view, pasterns medium 45 degree angle, cannons lean and flat, knees broad tapering gradually into the cannon.

ARM AND FOREARM– show muscle, chest fairly wide, deep and full with a slight vee between the legs, shoulders deep well laid in (sloping 45 degrees), withers prominent with a good saddle base.

BODY – round, full ribbed, well muscled with well sprung ribs, back and loin short, well muscled.

HINDQUATERS – Croup medium and muscular, quarters and gaskins deep and muscular, Hocks should be clean cut and well supporting, tail should be well coupled on the croup.

ACTION – Walk straight with long easy strides, trot prompt and free straight, true and balanced, hocks carried closely. The knees and hocks should not be carried so high that the motion resembles that of a Saddle Bred Pony or Harness Show Pony (keep in mind a trot is easy to ride).
1.Quality of an Australian Palouse Pony refers to substance, style and refinement. The ponies should be well proportioned, the skin soft and pliable in good health and flesh (not too fat or too thin) with the overall appearance of refinement, style, beauty, and substance.
2.Performance should walk straight with long easy stride; true and flat-footed. Jog or trot prompt and free, straight, true and balanced, hocks carried closely square, a slow and easy ground covering gait. The knees and hocks should not carried so high that the motion resembles that of a Saddle Bred or Harness Show Pony. Lope (canter) should be smooth, slow and easy on both leads with ability to push on if required.
3.Manners are demonstrated by the pony’s obedience to all commands and includes the ability to stand quietly, back readily, walk, jog, lope or stop as requested and, in general, guided by a light mouth.
4.Presence refers to animation, self-assurance, alertness and personality that stems from good breeding, good grooming, good care, good training, and good handling. Evidence of being a ‘Professional’ in its line is also present in that the pony senses what is required and readily expends the effort necessary to obey the demands of its rider of handler.
5.Palouse Characteristics are white Sclera of the eye (similar to human), mottled skin (parti-coloured) around the eyes, nostrils, mouth, rectum or genitals and vertically striped hooves. Some ponies may have all of the above characteristics and colour or only one or some of them. Some ponies have characteristics but no colour and these are registered as ‘C’Crade registered Ponies and are unable to be shown.
6.Colour – Necessary to show – To participate in a show, Palouse Ponies must have Palouse Colour and be registered with the Australian Palouse Pony Association. All Ponies must show some Palouse Pony Characteristics, striped hooves, being desirable but not essential.