DNA results for NZ Timor Ponies

The results of the Australian privately funded Timor Pony DNA ancestry study are here.

New Zealand provided 34 ponies hair samples to be studied including a couple of deliberate ‘known cross breeds’.

The study concludes that the ponies from New Zealand are not the same as those in Indonesia Timor nor Australian Timors. Knowing what we know about the migration of the ponies to New Zealand, cross breeding from decades before the current breeders acquired their ponies, has taken place. Without a registry, we must simply accept that they were not equipped with the ability to keep ponies pure nor to keep good common records.

The percentage of Timor Pony presented in the ponies referred to as ‘pure blood’ in New Zealand is averaging under 5%. A somber outcome when we had hopes as high as being able to support the Australian Project by sending ponies over the ditch to boost their genetic diversity.

NZ’s ponies are not clustering enough to be genetically considered a breed and with wide variety in conformation and other aesthetics, at best they could only be considered a ‘type’.

Anecdotally, they are great ponies with generally well known friendly and calm temperaments and the results of the testing do not detract from this. The breeders who work on these ponies often for decades, set out to breed nice children’s ponies, this they have done, and will continue to do. They should not be looked to for placing blame. After all, it was only around 200 years ago that humans even really grasped what a ‘breed’ was and thought until then that it was solely the environment the horses lived in that dictated the attributes of the horse.

The results do highlight to us that we should no longer consider them ‘Timor Ponies’ and an alternative name should be decided on. Instances of using the name should be gently corrected.

Just as we would not breed horses we know to be crosses and label them as Thoroughbreds, to continue to use that name for these ponies is to undermine the still existing Timor Ponies present in Australia which are not in the same boat as the Timor Pony.

New Zealand has a decision to make.

We can accept that the percentage is too low to consider the ponies a viable breeding project and let them go. This would give New Zealand a story to publish and be a cold reality that if we do not preserve breeds they can and will be lost. They become a martyr for other breeds to survive in NZ. This is not the worst outcome.

Alternatively, we can grab hold of the few we can work with and reinfuse the correct genetics into them. We had hoped to find a consistently higher percentage of Timor blood in them to shortcut a grading-up project but the standard 4 generations of purebred stallions being added to the grading up fillies remains the way forward. This will not be cheap as the semen or live colts need importing four times.

And we are led to our next issue resulting from this study. The inbreeding coefficient for the ponies of NZ is far too high. Instances of father, daughter, grandparent crossing is evident in both the family tree and the genetic results.

All the existing breeders need to join this project, all the ponies need to be used and swapped around to create some diversity.

Information about each ponies coefficient is obtainable which will ensure we can best work towards a healthy future matching less related ponies in NZ to create a diverse gene pool of fillies. However, we will need to reimburse the Australian Timor Pony Preservation Project for this information as it goes over and above what other contributors are granted. We have not yet contributed financially to this research study therefore it is appropriate to have this information paid for.

Time is of the essence as some of the mares are approaching 20 years old and are maidens so a decision on this matter needs to be decided swiftly.

How DNA works...

In 2023 Barb Bleicher privately funded a project to study and compare the DNA of Timor Ponies in Australia, Timor-Leste and New Zealand. The research was completed by Dr Brandon D Velie and his team at University of Sydney.

Results of this study are being shared on social media in 2025 after a long wait.

"During the release of DNA information from the Timor Pony DNA study, a lot of questions were coming through as well as assumptions that are not correct, but we can understand entirely how most people can land on those conclusions.

To help with explaining the reality of the things we are learning from this study, we have put together a simple mock breeding experiment using beads which is easy to follow and visualise as we work on 'breeding' ponies in our bead simulation.

During the release of DNA information from the Timor Pony DNA study, a lot of questions were coming through as well as assumptions that are not correct, but we can understand entirely how most people can land on those conclusions.

To help with explaining the reality of the things we are learning from this study, we have put together a simple mock breeding experiment using beads which is easy to follow and visualise as we work on 'breeding' ponies in our bead simulation.

Timor Pony Video Library

If you know of a great video to add to this library or replace existing out of date informative videos please contact us.

Timor Pony in NZ

NZ POPULATION - CRITICAL

Surprisingly low numbers remain in NZ, approximately 100 are left. The gene pool is thinning.

Under 100

WHERE TO BUY?

From time to time one comes up for sale on TradeMe or Facebook sales pages. Prices vary depending on how much they can do.

$1000-$5000

STUDS

2

AOHANGA TIMOR STUD - Ngaruawahia, Waikato, NZ

TIMOR PONY IS BORN

There is limited information about the exact origins of the Timor Pony - something Barb Bleicher is hard at work to change, and fast! Barb is currently funding a DNA project in partnership with Brandon Velie of Sydney University with a range of questions aiming to be uncovered with extensive testing of ponies from Timor-Leste, Australia and New Zealand.

If you have a Timor Pony please contact us to provide us with DNA to send for this project.

1200s - 1300s

Current day support

New Zealand has sent samples of over 30 ponies to Sydney University for testing. Results will be available mid 2025.

Global History

USES FOR TIMOR PONY

This is a strong breed capable of carrying immense loads. While in NZ we won't be loading them up with quite the amount of baggage as they would in Timor, they can certainly hold their own carrying adults.

As ponies for kids, they make a great second ridden for bold riders wanting a willing partner with speed, strength, stamina and motivation.

They are suited to dressage as they are talented with listening to seat and subtle aids. Want to ride with invisible aids like the Olympic Dressage riders? Try a Timor Pony.

Their jumps are fantastic. They will do well with Cross Country. They would also make fantastic endurance ponies.

Their unflappable natures make them a bold companion on a trail.

Under 2000

Today's global population

HELP THE TIMOR PONY

Timor Ponies are in a dire state. Of all the breeds listed it is arguably the most important one for New Zealand to take action with. Considering this breed is ONLY found in NZ, Australia and Timor-Leste, it is absolutely up to this corner of the world to save a breed that has very ancient DNA.

If you can donate to help this cause please reach out so we can put you in touch with the right people.

If you have a mare or want to work on breeding them back to accurate type within New Zealand we would like to hear from you.

Timor Mare learning to jump.

The breed played a key part in the development of a handful of Australian breeds such as the Australian Pony, Australian Stock Horse, Waler horses

Australian history

HISTORICAL POST: Do you own a Timor Pony?

2023

Please contact us if you own a Timor Pony in NZ. We are currently collecting DNA in the form of hair samples with the roots attached to assist with determining the genetic value, ancestry, heritage and importance of this breed which is being quickly realised to be one of the most important endangered ponies in the world.

Even if you have a gelding or a pony you don't want to breed, or is old, please contact us to supply DNA. Every pony we can find should be tested to help tell the story of the breed. Your pony may be able to tell us important information about other related ponies, help us to determine the best matches for breeding out of the available ponies, and help us complete the family tree of NZ's Timors.

As the Timor only resides in Australia, NZ and Timor-Leste it is up to us to do everything we can to save this amazing breed.

Click the image to the right to read more about this privately funded DNA project based in Australia.