Genetic diversity within and between British and Irish breeds: the maternal and paternal history of native ponies

The UK and Ireland have many native pony breeds, yet there is a lack of
comprehensive research investigating their genetic diversity and
phylogenetic interrelationships. Many studies contain a limited number of
pony breeds, or small sample sizes for these breeds. This may result in
erroneous grouping of pony breeds that otherwise have intricate
interrelationships with each other and are not evaluated correctly when
placed as a token subset of a larger dataset. This is the first study that
specifically investigates the genetic diversity within and between British
and Irish native pony breeds using large sample numbers from locations of
their native origin. This study used a panel of microsatellite markers and
sequence analysis of the mitochondrial control region to analyse the
genetic diversity within and between 11 pony breeds from Britain and
Ireland. A large dataset was collected and previously published data were
used to place the British and Irish ponies in a global context. The native
ponies of Britain and Ireland were found to have had a complex history and
the interrelationships between the breeds were revealed. Overall, high
levels of genetic diversity were present, including maintenance of rare
ancient matrilines in the Welsh and Fell breeds. In contrast the Dartmoor
showed limited maternal diversity. A number of unexpected shared ancestral
origins were elucidated between some breeds. The data generated herein
provides valuable information to guide and implement the conservation of
increasingly rare native genetic resources.