Every autumn on Exmoor, a remarkable tradition unfolds as local families gather the famous Exmoor ponies. Despite their wild appearance, every Exmoor pony actually has an owner. For example, the Anchor Herd, roaming freely on Winsford Hill, is privately owned and carefully managed.
This dramatic round-up involves friends and relatives on horseback and quad bikes working together to corral the ponies and bring them to a nearby farm for a thorough health check. The annual gathering serves an important conservation purpose, focusing on the foals born each spring. Each foal is separated from its mare and inspected by the Exmoor Pony Society. A vet microchips the foals to ensure individual identification, while the mares receive detailed health assessments. A precise headcount is crucial, as missing even one colt foal could significantly affect the breed’s future genetics.
The goal is to determine which foals will remain in the free-roaming herds and which will be sold—whether as future riding ponies or for conservation grazing programs. Those that meet the breed standard are registered in the Exmoor pony studbook, maintained by the Exmoor Pony Society.
The Anchor Herd belongs to David and Emma Wallace, with David serving as both a trustee and Chair of the Exmoor Pony Society. The Wallace family has cared for these ponies since 1947, with the herd itself dating back to the 19th century. The first ponies were officially registered in 1921, the same year the Exmoor Pony Society was founded.
Exmoor ponies hold the distinction of being Britain’s oldest native breed. Although their numbers have slowly recovered, they were once on the brink of extinction. David Wallace explains, “World War II had a devastating impact, leaving only 50 ponies alive and nearly wiping out their genetic lines. This almost led to the breed’s extinction.” Today, the Exmoor pony is classified as a ‘Priority’ species by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, meaning it remains endangered. Careful management of breeding and maintaining the studbook are therefore essential.
Currently, over 500 registered ponies live in 21 free-ranging herds within Exmoor National Park, which itself also owns a herd. Another 3,500 registered ponies live domesticated or free-ranging across the UK and internationally.
David adds, “Owners and breeders must carefully regulate foal numbers because the market—especially for colt foals—is limited. We typically register fewer than 200 foals per year. Proper management of genetics is key to preserving and enhancing the genetic diversity of the Exmoor pony.”
The Anchor Herd gathering is one of several similar round-ups taking place across different Exmoor herds throughout October.