The Breed Standard defines an Exmoor Pony according to the Exmoor Pony
Society (EPS) based in the United Kingdom, the country of origin. The
Breed Standard as defined by EPS is the gold standard & the only
standard by which ponies registered with EPAI are judged for breed evaluation
("A/"premium level). The Breed Standard follows:
1). Height: The preferred height range is
stallions & geldings 11.3h (119.4cm) to 12.3h (129.5cm) at maturity
& mares 11.2h (116.8cm) to 12.2h 127cm) at maturity.
2). General appearance & type: Definite
"pony" character; hard & strong; vigorous & alert
& symmetrical in appearance; mealy muzzle; "toad eyes."
3). Head & neck: Ears short, thick &
pointed; clean cut face; wide forehead, eyes large, wide apart &
prominent ("toad eyes"); wide nostrils; mealy muzzle; clean
throat; good length of rein.
4). Shoulders: Clean, fine at top, well laid back.
5). Chest: Deep & wide between &
behind forelegs, ribs long, deep, well-sprung & wide apart.
6). Back: Level; broad & level across
lions; tail neatly set in.
7). Legs: Clean & short with neat,
hard feet; forelegs straight, well apart & squarely set; hind legs
well apart, nearly perpendicular from hock to fetlock with
point of hock in line with pelvis bone; wide curve from flank to hock
joint; legs free in motion with no tendency to sweep or turn.
8). Action: Straight & smooth without
exaggerated action.
9). Coat: Summer is close,
hard & bright. Winter is double-layered dense coat with as under
insulating layer of fine, springy hair & an outer water-proofing
layer of hard, greasy hair.
10). Colour: Bay, brown, or dun with black points; mealy
colour on muzzle, round eyes, & inside flanks; no white markings
anywhere.
11). Quality: Alert expression & general poise indicating
balance & symmetry of movement; fine, clean bone.