When Viking settlers first came to the island of Iceland in the late 800s, they must have been in awe of its staggering beauty. Huge glaciers, ancient volcanoes, roaring waterfalls and lush forests greeted the immigrant farmers, who brought their animals with them to their new home.
Among the livestock that made the trip from Norway were horses— ancestors of today’s Norwegian Fjord. Other settlers from the British Isles soon followed, bringing ponies carrying Shetland, Exmoor and Highland Pony blood.
Over the next 1,000 years, horses in Iceland remained isolated from the rest of the world. Without the infusion of outside blood, a distinct breed of horse was formed that adapted to Iceland’s severe climate and rugged terrain. Small enough to survive on the sparse native grasses that grow in the winter months, yet strong enough to work the farm and carry an adult rider, the Icelandic breed became an integral part of Icelandic life.