- Galiceno -

The Galiceno pony breed was developed in Mexico during the early 16th century from horses shipped to South America from Cuba in 1519. The ponies are believed to have developed from the Galician pony from Spain and the Garrano pony from Portugal, also owing a debt to the Spanish Sorraia. The Galiceno is highly coveted in Mexico due to its excellent qualities of soundness, toughness, endurance, and long-windedness.

This breed was not introduced to the United States until 1958 and in the next year the Breeders' Association was formed to maintain the breed. They are popular in Americas although their numbers remain relatively small. The Galiceno is suitable for riding, pack and farm work, and light draft work. They also make excellent riding ponies for children. They are quick, highly athletic, biddable, and intelligent, and also exhibit great stamina. Many of these ponies are noted for their peculiar, fast running walk, which is a very smooth gait. This makes it very comfortable to ride; the smoothness of their gait is probably due to their Spanish ancestry.

Due to their small size, these ponies are often thought of only as children's ponies, although they have been used for quite a number of years by the Mexican cowboys, and can easily carry a man all day in the heat over rough terrain.

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