The Basotho Pony arrived in the country after 1825 and was the first horse of any type in Lesotho.

By the early 1950s the breed was facing extinction and this led to the establishment of the National Stud in 1978

Thick-walled hooves give the Basotho Pony its characteristic sure-footedness that helps it to safely negotiate mountainous terrain.

It is known for its quiet temperament and stamina and is often used by tourists for pony trekking,

The Basotho Pony has two additional gaits – the triple and the pace. Tripling is a gait that is slightly faster than a trot in which fore and hind legs on the same side work together.