Dartmoor’s semi-wild ponies face a significant threat following new grazing restrictions imposed by Natural England, the government body responsible for environmental conservation. The agency has called for a reduction of approximately 75 percent in livestock grazing across the moor to protect sensitive habitats and species, a move critics warn could result in the culling of up to 90 percent of the native pony population.

The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association, representing local stakeholders invested in the ponies’ future, argues that the policy forces ponies into competition with commercial livestock such as cattle and sheep. Joss Hibbs, the association’s secretary, expressed concern that the plans disregard scientific evidence and could decimate a species that has inhabited the moorlands for over 4,500 years. The ponies, classified as endangered by the United Nations in 2023, are among England’s last remaining semi-wild herds alongside breeds found in Exmoor and the New Forest.

Natural England maintains that the measures are necessary to safeguard biodiversity on Dartmoor, which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The agency underscores its role as providing science-based guidance for habitat protection and restoration but notes that decisions regarding livestock management ultimately rest with individual landowners. However, opponents highlight that this approach contradicts a government-commissioned review from 2024, which recommended against actions that would reduce pony numbers, citing their importance to conservation grazing efforts.

The controversy has sparked widespread public backlash, with a petition opposing the grazing cuts garnering over 130,000 signatures. Luke Pollard, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport, conveyed his deep concern to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), warning of the potential loss of a key element of Dartmoor’s cultural and natural heritage. The proposed reductions could commence this autumn during the traditional October “drifts,” when ponies are rounded up for health checks, raising fears that the cull would begin at that time.

Campaigners emphasize that decreasing pony numbers may further harm the biodiversity of the region. A 2023 ecological report found significant undergrazing on Dartmoor, resulting in the spread of dominant and invasive species such as Molinia grass. The ponies play a vital role in controlling this vegetation, facilitating the recovery of native plants and supporting diverse invertebrate communities. Critics argue that sheep, which generally avoid Molinia, should be more strictly managed instead.

Sarah-Jane Norris, who initiated the petition, warned that further reductions could render the pony population genetically unsustainable and lead to effective extinction. In response, a Defra spokesperson confirmed ongoing collaboration with partners including the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association to maintain semiwild pony numbers on the moor over the long term. The outcome of this debate could significantly influence the environmental and cultural landscape of one of Britain’s most iconic wild spaces.