• Despite its small stature, the Icelandic Horse is referred to as a horse rather than a pony

• Horses were brough to Iceland in the longboats of the Norsemen between AD860 and AD935

• Few breeds can boast such purity of blood as the Icelandic Horse - there has been no outcross to other breeds for almost a thousand years

• These horses are often kepy in a semi feral state and can stay outside in severe winter conidtions

• They are used for any types of work, they provide meat and are used for traditional sporting activities of Iceland

• Not only does this horse perform the basic walk, trot and gallop, they also pace (skeid) or move at the famous tölt which is a fast running/walk

• The head is plain and heavy in proportion to its size

• The frame is small but powerful enabling the horse to carry weights over long distances

• The Icelandic horse stands at between 12.3 and 13.2 hands high

• Warm blooded