If you spend any time exploring Bodmin Moor, you’re likely to come across one of its most charming sights; the wild ponies that graze across the open landscape. These small, sturdy ponies have lived on the moor for generations and are well adapted to life among the granite tors and wide grassy plains.
The Bodmin Moor ponies are semi-wild, meaning they’re owned and cared for by local farmers but live freely across the moor. You’ll often see them in small groups, quietly grazing near places like Rough Tor, Brown Willy, or around Colliford Lake. In the spring and early summer, it’s a real treat to spot newborn foals, often staying close to their mothers as they get used to their surroundings.
Visitors are welcome to enjoy seeing the ponies but should remember they’re not tame animals. It’s best to keep a respectful distance and never feed them. The ponies are an important part of the moor’s ecology, helping to manage the vegetation and maintain the natural balance of this unique landscape.
For anyone who enjoys wildlife watching or photography, the ponies add a special touch to a walk across Bodmin Moor; a simple reminder of how nature and tradition continue to thrive in Cornwall’s heartland.