The Asturcon is a naturally gaited pony that uses a lateral four beat gait that is not a trot. Although in their early domestication they were not often used as riding ponies this gentle, smooth gait makes them ideal for pack horses as there is minimal weight shifting of the load.
The Romans highly valued these small and hardy ponies and were the first group to call the pony breed Asturcons, however they are also known as the Asturian Pony.
The ambling gait of the Asturcon is believed to be derived from the Celtic Pony, which was naturally gaited, and which forms a great deal of the foundation of the Asturcon breed.
Garrano and Sorraia Iberian breeds are also in the bloodlines of the Asturcon and from this heritage the traditional Iberian horse features are presumed to have come from.
The first description of the Asturcon as a small, ambling pony was by Pliny in 23-79 AD, and the features described in the writing are clearly indicating the Asturcon.
The word term hobby horse which describes a gently moving or ambling horse or pony, is believed to be directly from the influence of the ambling or gaited Asturcon. They were called haubini in Frence, which, when used in English, become hobbye and then later hobby. Hobby horses were considered ideal smaller horses/ponies for ladies and children.
The true Asturcon is considered a rare horse and has been close to extinction at several points in time. Wild or feral herds living in the rugged terrain of Northern Spain have been used to focus breeding efforts to repopulate the breed.
The mane of the Asturcon is one if the breeds most striking features with its long, wavy and very profuse growth. The mane of the Asturcon is very similar to that of the Andalusian, another of the Iberian horse breeds.
The only surviving feral herds of Asturcons can be found in the Pedroriu and Sueve Mountains and are carefully monitored and protected. These wild herds are considered to be the true genetic foundation of the breed for future lines and breed propagation.
There are approximately 1080 ponies registered in the official Asturcon stud book that is managed by the Asturcon Pony Breeding Association. The vast majority of these horses are privately owned and fully domesticate and have been selective bred rather than caught from the wild.
The Astrucon has been used in many genetic studies as a way to determine and trace inbreeding and historical outbreeding within a protected horse population. The wild nature of the Astrucons has made the smaller herds ideal for this type of genetic research and study.
Although not always possessing perfect conformation, the Asturcon is amazingly strong, hardy and sure footed by nature. They are also a gentle and calm breed of horse or pony that continues to make them ideal and a light cart pony or even as a mount for a child or a smaller adult.
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