Written question WQ99108

Welsh mountain ponies are an integral part of our landscape, culture, and heritage. They also deliver significant conservation benefits, helping to maintain and enhance the ecology of their environments.

The Welsh Government does not directly manage semi-feral pony populations; responsibility for their day-to-day management rests primarily with commoners, landowners, and grazing organisations.

The hill pony improvement derogation, which allows semi-feral ponies to remain within defined areas without the need for individual passports or microchipping, enables these animals to continue thriving in extensive environments while still meeting legislative requirements in a proportionate and practical way. This approach reflects the unique management systems under which these ponies are reared and supports their long-term sustainability.

We recognise the important role that hardy native breeds, including Welsh mountain ponies, play in supporting biodiversity, landscape management, and sustainable land use. Through ongoing engagement with stakeholders, such as commoners, breed societies, and land managers, we are working to ensure that regulatory frameworks and future agricultural support schemes continue to underpin these systems and the landscapes they help to sustain.