Ponui donkey
{{Short description|New Zealand breed of donkey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use list-defined references|date=July 2022}}
{{ infobox donkey
| name = Ponui
| image = Donkey-Ponui Island-Shaun Lee.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Donkeys on Ponui Island
| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): not listed{{r|barb}}|Rare Breeds Conservation Society: rare{{r|rare}}}}
| altname = {{ubl|Ponui Island Donkey|New Zealand Donkey}}
| country = New Zealand
| distribution = New Zealand
| standard = {{nobreak|[http://www.donkey-mule.org.nz/Register/Form/Ponui_Island_Register%20Rules_Jan_2010.pdf Donkey & Mule Society of New Zealand]}}
| use =
| maleweight =
| femaleweight =
| height = {{convert|91|–|107|cm|abbr=on}}{{r|cabi|p=42}}
| maleheight =
| femaleheight =
| coat = light dun or chocolate, with darker dorsal stripe
| features =
}}
The Ponui or Ponui Island Donkey is a breed and feral population of domestic donkey from Ponui Island, in the Hauraki Gulf off New Zealand. It is the only feral donkey in New Zealand. It may also be called the New Zealand Donkey.{{r|cabi|p=42}}
History
Frederick Chamberlin bought Ponui Island from the New Zealand government in 1854.{{r|ms}} Donkeys were brought to the island together with other livestock from New South Wales, and a feral population established itself. The Ponui Island Donkey now has formal breed status,{{r|alex}} and some are distributed in mainland New Zealand.{{r|rare}} It is registered by the Donkey & Mule Society of New Zealand. The Ponui is listed as 'rare' by the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand;{{r|rare}} it is not among the New Zealand livestock breeds reported to the DAD-IS database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.{{r|dad}}
Characteristics
The Ponui donkey is docile and sturdy. It stands about {{nobreak|1 metre}} at the withers. It is usually light dun in colour, but may be chocolate; broken-coloured donkeys cannot be registered.{{r|desc}}
{{Gallery}}
See also
References
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Category:Mammals of New Zealand
Category:Donkey breeds originating in New Zealand
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