History reveals that there have been spotted equines present on earth for many centuries. The spotted coloration has been prized by horse owners for thousands of years. Cave paintings in Asia and Europe depict spotted ponies and their relationship with humans. Some of these paintings depict these ponies in herds, one presumes that they were for food, others show spotted pomies in chariots, as beasts of burden and being ridden.
King Solomon started the first stud book for spotted ponies. The main criteria being that they were of average height (between nine and fourteen hands), that they possess a placid and trainable temperament, that they were strong and hardy, with fair speed and endurance. It is documented that King Solomon valued his ponies, and it is claimed that only the very rich and priviledged could keep them.
Over the centuries spotted ponies were to be found all over the world. They are known by several names : the English spotted pony in Britain, the ponies of America in the USA, and the palouse pony in Australia. As time has passed spotted ponies have travelled all over the world with different peoples in their endeavours to discover and explore new lands, resulting in these ponies breeding with many native and other breeds, so the type has probably altered to that of ancient times.

The things that haven't changed are the characteristics of mottled skin, human eye (white sclera), hard walled striped hooves, and the placid, trainable temperament. These traits continue to be passed on from generation to generation through the genetic makeup of the spotted pony. In fact, non-spotted progeny of two spotted parents will not blood test as carrying the gene that makes the spotted pony.
The most recent stud book was developed by the Nez Perc Indians, a Pacific North West tribe of North America in the Palouse River area of Idaho in the late 1700s. The original breeding stock were most likely those which came to America from Spain in the early 1500s. The Nez Perc treasured their horses, particularly the larger type, of about 15 hh, which had evolved from the smaller spotted pony. They were treasured not just for their many different coat patterns, but also for their endurance and hardiness.

Today's spotted pony can be traced to their ancestors through each country's registry. The majority of spotted ponies in Tasmania carry the bloodlines of 'Highrail Mini Whistler' 'Dunedin Superdot Sabre' and 'Shaal Tara Flying High.' There are now a few progeny of more recent imports, however the palouse pony, as it is known in Australia, is very scarce as most breeding programs have ceased due to the color prejudice of judges in Tasmania making it difficult for breeders to successfully compete in the open show ring. This prejudice also makes it difficult for breeders to gain a reasonable price for well bred stock.
Tasmanian spotted ponies have had some success, Dunedin Superdot Sabre representing Australia at the World Show and taking out the high performance award. To do this he had to compete in dressage, showjumping, Western reining, Western pleasure, Western trail, English hack, and games. A true test of any equine's temperament and versatility. Sabre's success at this show led to the rider's selection to the team which travelled to America and competed at the international show at Shelbyville, Tennessee, and the world show at Tulsa, Oklahoma. They won!

The modern palouse pony still manifests some of its ancient traits, particularly the sparse mane and tail, strong muscle development, and muscle tie in the forearm and thigh.
Spanish American type spotted ponies, prized for their gentle disposition and attractive color and markings, were crossed with other established gaited breeds, mainly Tennessee Walking Horses, to produce a natural gaited riding horse that was bigger than the spotted pony. Big enough for adult riders, with longer legs, bodies and necks; yet still retaining the gentleness and charm of the spotted pony.

The Breed Standard for the Spotted Pony is:

GENERAL CHARACTER: A quality pony with adequate bone and substance, hardy and active with real pony character of miniature, riding or cob type up to and including 14.2 hands high.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS: All ponies must display some or all of the following - White sclera round the eye. Mottled skin, this part dark, pink skin is usually most evident around the genitals. Muzzle, eyes and inside the ears. Striped hooves.

ACCEPTABLE COLORS:

Leopard: Spots of any color on a white or lightly colored background.

Few Spot Leopard: White base color with only a few spots. Strong characteristics often accompanied by varnish marks (groupings of dark hairs within an area. Usually nose, check bones. Stife, gaskin and knee).

Snowflake: White spots on a dark base coat.

Blanket: An area of white over the hips and hindquarters with or without spots. Any base color. The blanket can extend over the entire back and shoulders. The latter must display strong breed characteristics.

Mottled pattern: The coat is most often irregularly ticked with white, having also large or small roan spots, their outlines rather blurred. Sometimes also a coat looking like an ordinary roan but in which dark blots (varnish marks) appear.

Piebald and skewbald markings of any kind are not eligible. Breeding to greys is discouraged as this dilutes the color and can introduce the greying (fading) gene. Solid colors are eligible for a separate register but must be of proven spotted breeding and preferably show some breed characteristics.

HEAD: Full of quality and true pony character. Big bold eyes, set well apart. Ears should be well placed, small neat and in proportion to the head. Prominent open nostrils. Clean well defined throat. A coarse head and roman nose is discouraged.

NECK: Should have good length and be well carried. Moderately lean in mares but inclined to be more cresty in stallions. Slightly heavier neck is allowable in the cob type.

SHOULDERS: Good strong, sloping and well laid back. Withers should be well defined but not 'knifey'

FORELEGS: Should be square and true. Not tied in at the elbow. Long strong forearms with well developed knee. Short fat below the knee. Pasterns of proportionate length and slope. Well shaped dense hooves. The cob type should have a greater abundance of bone without coarseness and a moderate quantity of fine feather when in the rough.

HINDQUARTERS: Lengthy, strong, well muscled, not ragged or dropping with well set on tail.

HIND LEGS: Well let down hocks, large flat clean bone, prominent points. The hock not to be set behind a line from the point of quarter to fetlock joint. No sickle or cow hocks. Pasterns to be of proportionate length and slope. Hooves well shaped and dense.

ACTION: Low, straight, from the shoulder. Free flowing. Hocks well flexed with straight action coming well under the body. The cob type may show more knee action.

International Spotted Horse Registry Association

Spotted Pony research by Bejon, Critter People & Friends
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