Meet the locals

You don’t have to travel far into the New Forest to meet the locals. There are about 5,000 of them, roaming at will anywhere.
The New Forest pony is the most striking livestock you’ll find in the National Park. Oh, yes, there are also cattle, pigs, donkeys and deer.
But it is the presence of the ponies which adds the over-riding natural beauty to the life of the Forest.
All of them are wild in the sense they can roam where they will, but they are in fact owned by New Forest Commoners under traditions which are said to go back to the days of William the Conqueror who looked upon the New Forest as his private hunting ground.
You’ll find them in herds hanging around open common land and their presence, grazing keeps grassland short and tidy.
But don’t try to feed them. There is a forest byelaw which forbids the feeding of forest stock and can land you with a £200 fine and a criminal record. And although they look quite tame, they can still pack a powerful kick. And they bite!