Malkangiri’s Ponies to be Identified as New Species of Horses

Bhubaneswar: The unique ponies found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha have been identified as a new species of pony (typical small horses) by a team of researchers from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar.

The OUAT team plans to apply to the Central government for recognition of these ponies as the ‘eighth species’ of horses, informed OUAT sources.

This special type of pony is found in the remote Swabhiman Anchal under the Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri district. They are used as a mode of transportation by inhabitants of around 40 villages of five panchayats in the Swabhiman Anchal.

Till now seven pony species are recognized in India.

The Malkangiri pony species grow to around 142 to 149 centimetres in height. But these small horses have the capacity to travel through extremely rugged terrain and can carry loads up to 100 kg.