Asturcón: the Asturian pony, origin, morphology, and uses
The Asturcón is the native pony of Asturias. It is small, with a dark coat and long mane, and has always been raised in the wild in the Asturian mountains. Today it is used primarily as a mount for children, in harness, and in horseball. This fact sheet contains the official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Catalog of Breeds and the breed's breeding program.
Basic data
| Name | Asturcón (in the breeding program, "Asturcón Breed Pony") |
|---|---|
| Classification | Native breed |
| Origin | Asturias, with mentions since 80 B.C. |
| Height at withers | 130 cm reference; never more than 1.47 m |
| Weight | 275 kg for males and 250 kg for females |
| Coats | Black, bay, and chestnut, with no markings other than a star |
| Primary use | Sport; also leisure |
| Association | Association of Asturcón Breed Pony Breeders (ACPRA) |
Origin
The Asturcón owes its name to the Principality of Asturias. The Ministry describes it as an indigenous breed with references throughout history: the oldest are found in the chronicles of the Roman invasions, and there are mentions dating back to 80 B.C.
Today it is distributed throughout all Asturian municipalities and the majority of Spanish provinces.
Appearance: morphology
The official file defines it as elipometric, sub-concave, and brevilinear: an animal of low weight for its size, with a slightly dished profile and short proportions. What stands out most:
- Head: harmonious, medium-sized, and with a straight or dished profile. Wide nostrils and strong jaws, with bristles, especially in winter. It is common for females to have canine teeth.
- Neck: medium length and strong. In adult males, it tends to curve; in females, it is finer and straighter.
- Mane and tail: abundant and long. The tail starts at mid-height and is raised when the animal moves.
- Body: prominent withers, deep and muscular chest, well-joined back and loins, and a sloping croup, never double.
- Limbs and hooves: straight and strong limbs, with marked tendons. The hooves are small, black, rounded, and very hard.
- Height: 130 cm reference for males and females, and never more than 1.47 m. With that height, it counts as a pony in competition.
- Coats: black, bay, and chestnut, with no markings other than a star.
It also has a unique movement: pronounced high-stepping that gives it a very characteristic trot. In foals, the ambling gait is more frequent, which they usually lose after weaning.
What it is used for
Its primary use today is sport, and also leisure. According to the Ministry, it is used mainly for children's mounts in equestrian competitions, harness, and horseball. Its size and its resistance, which the document describes as "disproportionate for its size," explain why it works so well with small riders.
Outside the arena, it also plays an important role:
- In the mountains: because it is raised in the hills, it helps maintain the natural environment.
- In Asturian culture: it is an emblem of the region and appears in folklore, crafts, and traditions.
How it is raised
The traditional system is extensive, in communal mountains, and to a lesser extent in meadows. It grazes freely and drinks from springs and streams. Contact with humans is concentrated at key moments: tagging and microchipping, deworming (which is done quarterly), and health treatments.
It is adapted to steep mountains with high rainfall and snow, and it survives in extreme cold conditions. The document also notes a suspicion, acknowledged as not analytically confirmed: that it has great resistance to piroplasmosis, a disease common in its area.
Reproduction data from the document: animals reach maturity at 24 months, mares have their first birth at around 48 months on average, and productive life is around 16 years.
Breeding program and association
The official breeding program was approved by the Resolution of June 1, 2021, of the Ministry of Rural Environment and Territorial Cohesion of the Principality of Asturias. It was presented by the Association of Asturcón Breed Pony Breeders (ACPRA), which manages the breed. Breed news and contact with the association can be found on their website, asturcones.com.
Equipment for a pony like the Asturcón
At about 130 cm tall and 250-275 kg, the Asturcón uses pony sizes. Before buying, it is convenient to measure it well: the halter is based on head size, and the blanket on body length, not height. If you don't have a scale, our horse weight calculator gives you an estimate using a measuring tape.
Other native breeds from the north with their own fact sheet: the Pura Raza Galega horse and the Pottoka.
See all native horse breeds of Spain.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Official Catalog of Livestock Breeds of Spain: Asturcón, general data, morphological data, uses and farming system, productive data and breeding program.
- Resolution of June 1, 2021, of the Ministry of Rural Environment and Territorial Cohesion, which approves the Breeding Program of the Asturcón Breed Pony presented by ACPRA.
- Association of Asturcón Breed Pony Breeders (ACPRA): asturcones.com.
