Timor Pony

{{Short description|Breed of horse}}

{{Refimprove|date=February 2007}}

{{Infobox horse

|name= Timor

|image=Pferde in Maubisse klein.jpg

|features =

|country= East Timor, Indonesia

|note=

}}

The Timor Pony was developed on Timor Island, likely from Indian breeds of horses and ponies that were imported to the island.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/timor.html|title=TIMOR PONIES|website=www.rarebreeds.co.nz|access-date=2019-12-05}} The Timor Pony is thought to be closely related to the Flores Pony, which was developed on nearby Flores Island.Hendricks, Bonnie. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds, page 186 Both breeds are used by the local people for cattle work, as well as riding, driving, and light farm work. Many of these ponies have been exported to Australia, where they have had an influence on the breeding of the Australian Pony.

Timor Ponies are strong, frugal, and agile, and have a quiet and willing temperament. The ponies have a narrow frame, short back, muscular neck, prominent withers, and a sloping croup. The shoulders tend to be straight, but the legs and feet are strong. The ponies usually stand 10 to 12 hands high ({{convert|40|to|48|in|cm|0}}), and are usually brown, black, and bay, but a few are gray. The Flores Pony is usually around 12.1 hh and the dominant colors are bay and chestnut.

Sixty Timor Ponies that were imported into Australia formed the foundation of the Coffin Bay Pony breed that was developed in South Australia.[http://www.utas.edu.au/arts/imaging/bagust.pdf Cuddly Koalas, Beautiful Brumbies, Exotic Olives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402230222/http://www.utas.edu.au/arts/imaging/bagust.pdf |date=2012-04-02 }} Retrieved 2009-9-22

The Timor Pony is referenced in the poem The Man from Snowy River by Banjo Paterson,[http://www.suaimediaspace.org/timor-ponies-in-pt-phillip/ "Timor Ponies in Pt. Philip"] first published in 1890.