S7singh at 21:15, 31 July 2025

2025-07-31T21:15:44Z

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{{Short description|Breed of horse}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2020}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox horse breed
| name = Manipuri Pony
| image = Manipur Pony.jpg
| image_size =
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| image_caption =
| image2 =
| image_size2 =
| image_alt2 =
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| features =
| altname = {{ubl|Manipur Pony|Meitei Sagol{{r|ihsi}}}}
| country = India
| distribution = {{ubl|[[Assam]]|[[Manipur]]}}
| standard = [https://web.archive.org/web/20201116111355/http://www.horseindian.com/Manipuri-Pony-Breed-Standard.htm Indigenous Horse Society of India]
| status = {{ubl|[[FAO]] (2007): not at risk{{r|barb|page=61}}|[[DAD-IS]] (2020): unknown{{r|dad}}}}
| use =
| colour = fourteen recognised colours{{r|cabi|page=484}}
| height = {{ubl|usually 122–132 cm|up to 136 cm{{r|cabi|page=484}}}}
| male_height =
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}}
[[File:Manipuri horseman.jpg|thumb|Manipuri horseman in an illustration from 1855]]
The '''Manipuri Pony''' ({{langx|mni|i=no|'''Meitei Sagol'''}}){{r|cabi|p=484}} is a traditional Indian [[list of horse breeds|breed]] of small horse or [[pony]] from [[Assam]] and [[Manipur]] in north-eastern India. It appears both in the [[History of Manipur|history]] and the [[Manipuri mythology|mythology of Manipur]], and was used for [[warfare]] and [[polo]]. It is believed to have been the [[polo pony]] in use in Assam in the mid-nineteenth century when British [[tea planter]]s first saw [[polo]] being played, and the height limits set for polo ponies were based on ponies of this breed. It was very numerous in the early twentieth century, but numbers have since fallen. A [[breed society]] was established in 1977, and a breed standard was drawn up by the [[Indigenous Horse Society of India]] in 2009.{{r|cabi|page=484}}

== History ==
Small horses have been bred for centuries in the Manipuri area of north-eastern India.<ref name="India">{{cite web|url=http://nrce.nic.in/eqindia.htm|title=Equines in India|publisher=National Research Centre On Equines (Indian Council on Agricultural Research)|access-date=27 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525212416/http://nrce.nic.in/eqindia.htm|archive-date=25 May 2010}}</ref> They were often used as [[warhorse]]s, and were ridden by the [[Meitei people|Meitei]] warriors of [[Kangleipak]] (later called [[Manipur]]). Horses from Manipur were used by the cavalry of [[Ningthou]] [[Gharib Nawaz (Manipur)|Gharib Nawaz]] ({{langx|mni|[[Pamheiba]]}}) in his wars against the [[Konbaung dynasty]] of Burma.<ref name=Breedstandard/> When the game of [[polo]] was first observed by British [[tea planter]]s in Assam, these are believed to have been the [[polo pony|polo ponies]] that were being used.{{r|cabi|page=484}} Some unsuccessful attempts were made to [[cross-breed]] the Manipuri polo ponies with [[Arab (horse)|Arab]] stock.{{r|cabi|page=484}} The height of polo ponies was based on the average height of the Manipuri, and was at first restricted to {{convert|132|cm|hands|0|abbr=in|lk=out}}, later relaxed to {{convert|136|cm|hands|0|abbr=on}}; in 1916 the restriction was completely removed.{{r|cabi|page=484}} At about this time the export of ponies from Manipur was banned in order to allow breed numbers to recover.<ref name=Breedstandard/> Manipuri horses were used to transport British troops into Burma during the [[Second World War]].<ref name=news/>

In 1977 a [[breed society]], the [[:simple:Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association|Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association]] (MHRPA), was established.<ref>{{cite journal|title=A ride through the changes in modern Polo|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/7045675.cms?prtpage=1|date=5 December 2010|journal=The Economic Times|access-date=31 March 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017032312/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/7045675.cms?prtpage=1|archive-date=17 October 2012}}</ref> In recent years, breed numbers have decreased, and estimates place the breed at somewhere between 2300<ref name="India"/> and 1000 in population in the 21st century.<ref name=news>{{cite journal|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081229/jsp/northeast/story_10312865.jsp|title=Park boon for Manipur pony - Polo association to build heritage hub to try and save dying species|journal=The Telegraph|date=29 December 2008|access-date=4 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026024456/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081229/jsp/northeast/story_10312865.jsp|archive-date=26 October 2012}}</ref> Population numbers continue to dwindle in part due to high numbers of ponies being smuggled into Myanmar (Burma), where the breed is in demand, after either having been purchased or stolen from their Indian owners. In 2005, a heritage park was opened by the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association with the goal of preventing the extinction of the breed and promoting them to tourists.<ref name=news/>

== Characteristics ==
The Manipuri Pony has a light head with a straight profile, set on a well-formed neck, somewhat pronounced [[withers]], a deep chest and sloping shoulders. The [[rump (animal)|croup]] is sloping, the legs sturdy and the [[horse hoof|hooves]] well-proportioned. The overall appearance is elegant. Manipuri ponies generally stand {{hands|11|to|13}} high.<ref name="Bongianni">{{cite book |editor= Bongianni, Maurizio |title= Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies |publisher= Simon & Schuster, Inc. |location= New York, NY |year= 1988 |isbn= 0671660683 |page= [https://archive.org/details/lish00maur/page/ Entry 120] |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/lish00maur/page/ }}</ref> They are often [[bay (horse)|bay]] in color, but can also be [[Pinto horse|pinto]], [[gray (horse)|grey]] and [[chestnut (coat)|chestnut]].<ref name=Hendricks/> Because of the short height of the ponies, riders use shortened mallets while playing polo.<ref>{{cite book |author= Edwards, Elwyn Hartley |title= The Encyclopedia of the Horse |publisher= Dorling Kindersley |edition=1st American|location=New York, NY |year=1994|isbn=1564586146|page=201}}</ref> The Manipuri pony resembles, and is distantly related to, the [[Burmese Pony]] and the Indonesian [[Batak Pony|Batak]] and [[Sumba and Sumbawa Pony|Sumba]] ponies.<ref name=Breedstandard>{{cite web|url=http://www.horseindian.com/Manipuri-Pony-Breed-Standard.htm|title=Manipuri Pony Breed Standard|publisher=Indigenous Horse Society of India|access-date=4 April 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522191102/http://www.horseindian.com/Manipuri-Pony-Breed-Standard.htm|archive-date=22 May 2011}}</ref>

In 2007, a study was published that examined [[genetic variation]] among five Indian equine breeds—the Manipuri, [[Marwari horse|Marwari]], [[Indian Country Bred|Spiti]], [[Indian Country Bred|Bhutia]], and [[Zaniskari pony|Zanskari]]. Based on analysis of [[Microsatellite (genetics)|microsatellite]] DNA, the Manipuri was found to have the greatest [[genetic distance]] from the Marwari, and a much closer genetic distance to the other three breeds.<ref name=Behl>{{cite journal|title= Genetic relationships of five Indian horse breeds using microsatellite markers|journal=Animal|volume=1|issue=4|date=May 2007|pages=483–488|doi=10.1017/S1751731107694178|author1=Behl, R. |author2=Behl, J. |author3=Gupta, N. |author4=Gupta, S.C. |pmid=22444405|doi-access=free|bibcode=2007Anim....1..483B }}</ref> The distance from the Marwari was not only genetic, but seen in physical characteristics, particularly height and environmental adaptability. The physical differences were attributed to differing ancestries: the Marwari horse is closely associated with the [[Arabian horse|Arabian]], while the four other breeds are thought to have descended at least in part from the [[Tibetan pony]]. None of the breeds in the study were found to be closely genetically associated with the [[Thoroughbred]].<ref name=Behl/>

==Uses==
Polo was introduced into the area of Manipur state as early as the seventh century, and Manipuri ponies were one of the first breeds used in the game.<ref name=Hendricks>{{cite book|year=2007|title=International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds|author=Hendricks, Bonnie|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=9780806138848}}</ref> The British learned of polo during the nineteenth century while watching it played on Manipuri ponies in India. The breed is still used for polo today in India, but other breeds are more popular in Europe and America.<ref name="Bongianni"/> Manipuri ponies are often also used to play ''sagol kangjei'', a version of polo believed to be close to what was originally played when the sport was invented. Sagol kangjei is more demanding than modern polo, as ponies are used for the entire match instead of being changed between periods.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/3656-the-gods-of-polo.html|title=The Gods of Polo|publisher=The Southasia Trust|author=Chowdhury, Fatima|date=11 February 2011|access-date=9 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111204438/http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/3656-the-gods-of-polo.html|archive-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> Manipuri ponies are also used for racing.<ref name="India"/> During their early history, they were in demand as cavalry horses, and men that rode these ponies were thought well-mounted.<ref name=Hendricks/>

== In popular culture ==
* [[Daughters of the Polo God]]
* [[Manipuri Pony (film)]]
== See also ==
* [[Heingang Ching]]
* [[Marjing]]
** [[Marjing Polo Complex]]
** [[Marjing Polo Statue]]

== References ==
{{commons category|Manipuri}}
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to: [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{isbn|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{isbn|9781780647944}}.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[http://www.fao.org/dad-is/browse-by-country-and-species/en/ Breed data sheet: Manipuri Pony / India (Horse)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2020.</ref>

<ref name=ihsi>[http://www.horseindian.com/Manipuri-Pony-Breed-Standard.htm Manipuri Pony Breed Standard]. Indigenous Horse Society of India. Accessed January 2020.</ref>

}}

{{Horse breeds of India|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Horse breeds]]
[[Category:Horse breeds originating in India]]
[[Category:Culture of India]]
[[Category:Ponies]]

Manipuri pony - Revision history

S7singh at 21:15, 31 July 2025