Key facts
- Dartmoor's wild ponies are facing an extinction risk.
- The threat is linked to new environmental regulations from the UK Government.
- Pony numbers have declined significantly over the past 70 years.
The wild pony population on Dartmoor is under threat of extinction, with concerns mounting over the impact of new environmental regulations introduced by the UK Government. These semi-wild ponies have been a part of the Dartmoor landscape for more than 3,500 years. However, their numbers have seen a substantial decrease over the last seven decades, raising alarms about their long-term survival.