Riding
Pony is a registry which was a planned exercise to breed a type for a
particular purpose. In genetic terms, a Riding Pony is not actually
a breed but rather a refined type. It combines certain characteristics
of known breeds and certain identified bloodlines which have demonstrated
prepotent ability to breed on some of these combined characteristics.
In other words the Riding pony is essentially a fixed cross or composite
of several breeds.
The end result aimed for is an animal which can go out into the
show ring and exhibit all the characteristics in type, movement and temperament
that defines a show pony.
Over nearly 100 years now the recognition of the bloodlines which
can best contribute to this end result have been recognized, recorded and
concentrated, first in Britain and for the last 25 years or so in Australia.
So the Riding Pony is a combination of various pony breeds with Thoroughbred
and Arab, bred to produce the ultimate pony to perform in show ring classes.