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The Faroe pony, Faeroes pony, or Faroese horse, (Føroyska rossið) is a small pony, with a height between . Technically this animal is a pony due to its height, but in the Faroe Islands it is called a horse because of its strength. Since the Faroe pony only lives on the Faroes, it is not well known in other countries. In 2021, there were only 94 Faroe ponies left living on the Faroes.
The Faroe pony has been living on the Faroes for many centuries. In 1880 more than 800 animals were registered on the Faroe Islands, but by the 1960s the population had been decimated to only five to six horses. One of the reasons was an extensive horse export from 1850 - 1920, for use in the mining industry (as Pit pony) in the United Kingdom. A conservation and breeding program was initiated by Leivur T. Hansen and in 1978 the organization Felagið Føroysk Ross (Breeders of Faroe Ponies) was established. Thanks to large scale efforts, the Faroe pony population increased to 70 animals in 2015, which were declared genetically pure, with 14 breeding stallions and the aim to maintain and develop the breed further. The low population is at risk for inbreeding and approval for export may improve genetic diversity.
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