Gotland Pony
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| Other names | Gotland russ |
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| Country of origin | Sweden |
Gotland pony or Gotland russ is an old Swedish pony breed. Gotland ponies are claimed to descend from Tarpans that lived on the small island of Gotland that is on the South-Eastern coast of Sweden right after the last ice age. The Gotland pony is the only breed of pony native to Sweden. The Öland horse from the neighbouring island of Öland was a close relative of the Gotland, but became extinct in the early 20th century.
The Gotland Russ has a light and narrow build with sloping quarters and a low-set tail. Their hooves are solid and hard. This pony generally stands from 115 to 130 centimetres (11.1 to 12.3 hands; 45 to 51 in) at the withers and is ideally between 123–126 centimetres (12.0–12.2 hands; 48–50 in). Three-year-old ponies must be 115–128 centimetres (11.1–12.2 hands; 45–50 in). The pony is strong and hardy, and can be ridden by children and small adults.
Wildtype bay and mealy (Pangare) are very common in the breed. Common colors include bay, chestnut, black, buckskin, and palomino, but all colors except for dun, grey, and pinto, are allowed. Bay or black is usually preferred.
The name russ comes from a now obsolete word ross, which means a riding horse or a charger and it is linked etymologically to the English word horse (in Old High German this word appeared as hros, and in English a metathesis has switched the places of the /r/ and the /o/, whereas in Swedish /hr/ went to /r/, producing ross or russ.
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