Banker

Origin

The Banker pony breed is native to the Outer Bank islands of North Carolina. The ancestors of these ponies were the Spanish horses, which arrived in this area during the sixteenth century Hispaniola.
These wild ponies appeared on the island long before British colonization. With a well-developed survival instinct, Banker ponies are able to eat the rough grasses that grow near swamps and dig holes in the sand in search of fresh water.
In 1957, a plea was made to the government to allow these wild ponies to continue to live on these islands. By the 1980s, public interest in these ponies had grown considerably.
After some genetic testing, experts decided that many of these ponies were genetically "pure" enough to be officially recognized. Currently, there are several hundred banker ponies, which are protected by law.

Banker Appearance

Banker is a relatively small horse breed with a height at geaban between 130 and 150cm. It weighs 360-450kg. The forehead is wide, the chest is deep and the legs are short.
A special feature of these horses is that they have strong bones. Fur can have any color, the most common is brownish color.
They support themselves easily, are friendly and docile. Many of their characteristics indicate that they share commonalities with Spanish thoroughbred horses and this suggests that they share common ancestors.

Banker Behavior

Today there are about 400 ponies living in the islands of North Carolina. These islands can be up to 50 km away from the shore.
The vegetation is rare and consists mainly of coarse grasses and a few stunted trees. Ponies graze herbs and feed on plants such as Typha latifolia, oats, etc.
Wild ponies are close to human dwellings, which is why some of them were domesticated. They are able to dig holes 0.5 to 1.5 m deep to reach fresh groundwater.