The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC)

The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) registry was started in 1888. Today, the ASPC is the oldest small equine registry in existence and one of the oldest equine governing bodies in the USA.

The ASPC has closed its studbook for hardshipping unregistered ponies many years ago and hence the American Shetland Pony can be considered a true horse breed. ASPC ponies are below 46" tall at the withers, but many are much smaller than that. Many sub-38" ASPC ponies (measured at the last hair of the mane) are also registered with the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR), a sister organisation of ASPC and the oldest miniature horse registry in the USA.

In years past, the ASPC has registered ponies as either "A" or "B", depending or not on whether they have Hackney blood in their pedigree, but this practice was stopped in 2008. Today, the ASPC classifies ponies in four categories, based on body style, maximum height, and bloodlines: Foundation, Classic, Modern, and Modern Pleasure. At Hulislaum we focus on the "Classic" type of ASPC pony. More recently we have started crossing "Classic" type with "Modern" type to induce even more refinement and movement into our ponies.

More information on ASPC can be found at the American Shetland Pony Club website.