Galloway ponies are an extinct horse breed, once native tornScotland and northern England. It was said that they had "good looks, arnwide, deep chest, and a tendency to pace rather than trot." They were a well known type of pony, first noted inrnEnglish literature when Shakespeare referred to "Galloway nags" inrnHenry IV part II.rnrn
rnrnA survey in 1814 stated: The province of Galloway formerlyrnpossessed a breed of horses peculiar to itself, which were in high estimationrnfor the saddle, being, though of a small size, exceedingly hardy and active.rnThey were larger than the ponies of Wales, and the north of Scotland, and rosernfrom twelve to fourteen hands in height. The soils of Galloway, in theirrnunimproved state, are evidently adapted for rearing such a breed of horses; andrnin the moors and mountainous part of the country, a few of the native breed arernstill to be found. This ancient race is almost lost, since farmers found itrnnecessary to breed horses of greater weight, and better adapted to the draught.rnBut such as have a considerable portion of the old blood, are easilyrndistinguished, by their smallness of head and neck, and cleanness of bone. Theyrnare generally of a light bay or brown color, and their legs black. The name ofrnGalloway is sometimes given to horses of an intermediate size between the ponyrnand the full-sized horse, whatever may be the breed. SINCLAIR, J, 1814: GeneralrnReport of the Agricultural State, and Political Circumstances, of Scotland.rn(Edinburgh, Constable)