The Carpathian Pony is often referred to by another name, Hucul; they originated in the part of Carpathian Mountain range that is in Poland. They are also referred to as the ideal working pony and are usually up to any challenge that is laid out in front of them. They are particularly used as a packhorse under harness, specifically through rough mountain trails. There is still some debate, but it is said that the Carpathian or Hucul Pony is a direct descendant of Eurasian wild horse Tarpan (the primitive horse of Poland) which is no longer in existence. They are actually thought to be the result of a crossbreeding of the wild Tarpan and the Mongolian wild horses. They are named after a small ethnic group called the Hutsuls.
The first reference of the Carpathian Pony dates back to the year 1603. During the time of the First World War, many of these ponies were selected to be cavalry mounts. It was also during this time that much of the breeding was stopped, but after the war was over the breeding was moved to Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. Slovak breeding began to take place in 1922.
In early 2000, the herd consisted of six stallions and twenty-three mares. In 1922, thirty-three of these ponies or horses were sent to Czechoslovakia where a herd was to be established, it was known as the Gurgul line. For a while, the breeding of these ponies was concentrated in the central area called the Carpathian Curve. Today the breeding area has been spread to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, and even as far as England.
Since 1979, the Carpathian has belonged to protected gene fund of original and primitive animal breeds of FAO. Today only 500 breeding Hucul mares exist in the world, so they are rather endangered compared to some other breeds. The number of purebred Carpathians is even less. They are one of the many horses that are on the "Red List" of domesticated animals in danger of being wiped out.
By the age of three, these ponies are put through an assessment of tests to see where they stand physically as well as concerning their behavior, their temperament, jumping, character, and all around willingness to perform chores and other sorts of work. Different variations of the Carpathian have been developed over the years, from light saddle packing breeds to the heavier draft horses.
Not only is the Carpathian Pony also referred to as the Hucul, it also goes by a few other names such as the Huculska, Hutsul, Hutul, and the Huzul. This breed is much older than the people they were named after, so old that they are thought to be the horses depicted in monuments that were built by Roman emperors Domitian and Trajan.
Unlike many horses in the world today, the Carpathian has not been crossbred with many different breeds so that the purebred bloodline is not to be tainted.
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