The original home of the Welsh Mountain Pony was in the hills and valleys of Wales, pre-dating the Roman Empire. Harsh winters, rugged terrain and sparse vegetation yielded a pony with soundness, endurance and a high degree of intelligence. All Welsh Ponies and Cobs found in the United States today are descended from animals registered with the Welsh Pony & Cob Society in the U.K. While Welsh ponies were imported to America as early as the 1880s, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America (www.wpcsa.org) was not established as a breed registry until 1906. To date, over 45,000 Welsh ponies and cobs have been registered.