Norwegian Fjord Pony or Horse, Fjord, Norges Fjordhest (Norwegian), Fjording, Nordbag, Nordfjord, Northern Dun, Norwegian Dun, Norwegian Pony, Vestland, West Norway, West Norwegian

Country of Origin: Norway

The Fjord Pony is one of the oldest breeds of equids. It bears a striking resemblance to the horses painted on cave walls by ice age artists some 30,000 years ago. The Fjord has earned a reputation as a strong, durable and pleasant-natured pony. It is used by the farmers of Norway as a general purpose pony to pull loads on their hilly farms. In addition to its strength, the breed is also noted for its light and smooth action. The Fjord pony has a thick coat so that it can endure rough winters with minimal care. The combined qualities of the breed have led to its exportation to many other countries in Europe, particularly Denmark, where it has been widely used for light draft work.

Of the characteristics which typify the Fjord Pony, color is the most predominant. It is predominantly dun and varying shades of that color. Occasionally bay and black Fjord ponies are seen. A Dorsal stripe runs from the tail along the back to the forelock. The legs are usually dark, and frequently have zebra stripes. The head is small, with broadly placed and expressive eyes. The neck is thick and muscular, and the mane stands up as it is usually clipped to 4 to 5 inches. The back, like the rest of the body, is quite muscular. The legs are clean, short and there is some feather. The Fjord Pony typically stands around 14 hands.

The Fjord Pony is native to Norway. There are two different types of Fjord Ponies: the Fjord-Hest northern Norway and the Doele-Hest from the valley regions. As a breed, this pony is descended from the pre-historic ponies of Asia.

The Fjord Pony's ancestors were used by the Vikings as their primary mount. Therefore, it may be assumed that it affected the breeds indigenous to other countries, notably the "mountain and moorland" ponies of Great Britain, and the Icelandic Horse. Considerable numbers of the Fjord Ponies were exported to Denmark at the turn of the century. There, the breed has been used on farms, especially in the northern area known as Jutland.

A Note: The following was sent to me in an e-mail so I would like to post this information. Thank you to Jorrit van Grieken for providing this information. The bolding was added by me:

The Norwegian Fjord and the Døle Horse (East Valley Horse) are NOT two different types of the same breed. The Fjord is a really old pony breed from the western part of Norway, probably with origins from the Przewalski horse. The Fjord was also the horse of the vikings. The Døle horse on the other hand is a small but heavy draft horse (not pony) from east of Norway, that more resembles the heavy horses of Britain, whom is also partly founders of this breed. The breed has its origins in the 1700th century. Although these two breeds have occasionally met in the past, a mix between them would not be recognized in either registry. (Both breeds have their own registry). Thus a Fjord can NEVER have any other colour than dun. They are in fact homozygous and will have to be mixed in at least three generations before the offspring will get any other colour than dun. So, conclusion: Fjord= one breed, Døle= one different breed. (By the way, the Døle and the North Sweedish horse, are basically the same breed, and are mixed quite often. The lighter version of both breeds, Norwegian- and Sweedish Cold Blood Trotters share the same registry)

Permission given by my dear friend, Cowboy Frank to use his breeds section.

For More Information:

Norwegian Fjord Horse
Norwegian Fjord Registry
Norwegian Fjord Association of North America
Fjord
Breeds of Livestock Oklahoma University-Fjord Pony