Falabella Pony

The Falabella developed during the 19th century in Argentina. The breed takes its name from the Falabella family, who spent years establishing the breed at their ranch outside Buenos Aires. Although the Falabella family developed the breed, the initial idea of producing a miniature horse came from an Irish man living in Argentina, Patrick Newtall. He spent years forming a herd of small 'horses' that stand under 9 hh, and he passed his knowledge and expertise to his son-in-law, Jaun Falabella, in 1879.

The origin of the Falabella horse can be linked to the origins of a horse in Latin America called the Andalusian horse that the Spaniards brought with them to accomplish the enormous task of the conquest--chosen for their rusticity and resistance. They were later left to survive on their own due to unsuccessful attempts to conquer the area's human inhabitants. Wandering without destination over the vast plains ("pampas"), the surviving horses underwent by necessity a series of biological processes and structural changes in order to adapt to the new conditions that were incredibly different from those of their native land.

The horses were forced to move great distances to find water and pasture due to the strong sun, cold southwestern winds ("El Pampero"), fierce storms and aridity of the land. This gave them incomparable resistance. Their keen instincts and ability to sense danger were sharpened by the persecution from humans and four legged predators.

These factors, in addition to continuous inbreeding and isolation, probably caused genetic mutations in successive generations, resulting in the kind of horse that the ancestors of the Falabella family are said to have seen for the first time before the mid-nineteenth century in the herds of Mapuche Indians of southern Buenos Aires province in Argentina.

The Falabella family achieved a herd of well-structured horses after many years of experimenting and selective breeding. The family was able to maintain the same proportions in their features as those of the horses Falabella had first acquired. This breed is also extremely long-lived, often reaching 40-45 years old.

The Falabella is a horse that possesses all the features and attributes of its taller relatives. The fixed nature of the genetic characteristics of the Falabella allows for their natural reproduction. Offspring are bred with the same temperament.

The original intentions were to produce a tiny, miniature horse and not a small pony. It is hard to tell quite what the perceived function for developing this breed was, when considering how tiny and inbred they are. However, the Falabella is extremely strong for its size and has been used in light harness capacity, and has been ridden by small children. The conformation of the breed, with its straight shoulder and tiny size, does not put it among the great ranks of children's ponies. They do have very good temperaments, are intelligent and friendly, and perhaps their best role is as an ornamental and unique pet.

The Falabella has fine, silky hair and skin that is thin and supple. The hooves are narrow with an oval shape. The manes are short and straight while others are long and falling on both sides of the neck. The gait is spontaneous and very energetic. The most common colors for the horse are black or brown but may vary from pinto, bay and chestnut.

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