Deli ponies arre native to the island of Sumatra in
Indonesia. They are closely related to Batak Ponies -both were developed in the Batak hills. They
are most likely named from the large numbers of ponies exported from the port
of Deli. They were first exported to Singapore, Malacca, and Penang, and from
there spread they out across Malaysia.
It is believed that the first horses in the Malay
Archipelago arrived several hundred years ago, either by Hindu invaders from
the west or merchants from Pegu and China. It is very probable that the Shan
Ponies, native to Burma and bred by its hill tribes, were imported to the
highlands of Northern Sumatra where there was open country. From there, these
horses were crossbred with Arabian stallions brought in by the Arab merchants
sometime around 1375.
Deli ponies have an attractive head, well-shaped, and
high-crested necks due to a strong infusion of Arabian blood. They are very
small (averaging only about 11.3 hands) although some reach up to 12.2 hands.
Their most common color is seal brown, though skewbalds also can be found.
Deli ponies are one of eight breeds native to Indonesia, the
others are the Batak Pony, Bali Pony, Java Pony, Sumba and Sumbawa Pony (and
closely related Sandalwood Pony), and Timor Pony.
About Deli Horses
