In 1986 the South Australian Government acquired over 30,000 acres of land in Coffin Bay, to be used as a National Park. Living in the park is a small herd of wild ponies. They were imported from Timor in 1837, when European stock did not stand up to Australia's harsh conditions.

They were placed on the Coffin Bay Peninsula, and have lived ever since. These small ponies helped the settlers to build the region, and are an important part of the heritage of it's people. When the motor vehicle era began, many of the ponies were massacred for their manes and tails. The ones that escaped the massacre, fled back to the peninsula, and continued to breed.

A rare management plan, with the Coffin Bay Pony Society and the National Parks and Wildlife Services, was set in place, and has worked for 20 years. Only 21 of these horses now live there. All of Australia's 'native horses' were bred with Timor ponies. Who could forget 'The Man from Snowy River'?

The South Australian Government has requested the ponies be removed. A Wilderness draft has been drawn up, which will close off the only access to where the ponies live. An e-mail petition is spreading to horse lovers throughout the world to express their concern for the plight of the Coffin Bay Ponies.

Read more about the oldest living breed of horses in Australia, their current situation and submit an e-mail expressing your concern, by visiting the official website for The Coffin Bay Pony Society.