In 2025, I conducted research on Fell Pony maternal diversity. This section summarizes my findings with links to more detail.

• I looked at the generation (9 years) centered on 1980 and the mare lines that contributed to the modern population (1993-2023).

• The mare lines are separated into five categories: Lost, Critical, At Risk, Watch, and Common.

• The Fell Pony breed is truly global, with some mare lines only represented outside the UK.

• While it’s possible to look only at the much-fewer source mares for the mare lines from 1976-1984, the older pedigrees are not considered as reliable as the more current ones.  Indeed, I was told by the owner of one of the mares in my study that her pedigree was not as it was recorded; the pony’s actual sire and dam are unknown.  This story confirmed the choice to use the generation of mares from 1976-1984.

I have produced the following lists of mares and their descendants that have resulted from this research. It’s my hope that Fell Pony stewards will review these lists and consider bringing the mares on them back into the breeding population in some way.

• Mare lines included in the study and Urgent Conservation Priorities: click here.

• Critical Conservation Priorities: click here.

• At Risk Conservation Priorities: click here.

• Watch Conservation Priorities: click here.

• Mare Lines in North America in need of conservation: click here.

To read an overview of the study that was submitted to the Fell Pony Society magazine for publication, click here. To read the first installment of the research, click here. To read Part 2, which includes a discussion of the limitations of diversity research based on pedigrees, click here. To read Part 3, which includes a discussion of the impacts of FIS, click here. To read part 4 which identifies urgent conservation priorities, click here. To read part 5 which identifies the lines in North America in need of conservation, click here.