The Garrano is a rare pony breed which originated thousands of years ago in the north of Portugal, in a region known today as Minho Province. Garrano ponies are often gaited.

A valued pony:
While its exact origins are unknown, it is believed that the ancestors of the Garrano were Celtic ponies. It is also believed that some Iberian breeds descend from the Garrano. The breed remained relatively pure, except for the infusion of Arabian blood during the 19th century.

Roaming wild all year long, Garrano ponies became well-adapted for life in the wild. For centuries, they were valued for their surefootedness and ability to cope with the local climate. They were usually used as farm and pack ponies, but starting from the 20th century, they began to be used more and more for riding.

The Garrano today:
Today, Garrano ponies still roam in semi-wild conditions in the region of Minho, and their conservation is overseen by the respective breed association. They are mostly used for riding and racing, especially in 'passo trevada' races in which the Garrano's supplemental gaits, notably the pace, come into play.

Conformation:
Garrano ponies have a small yet heavy head with a concave or straight profile, small-to-medium ears, large eyes, a short and muscular neck, low withers, a straight and short back, sloping croup, broad chest, and short legs with large joints.

The mane and tail grow long and thick, although they can also be short and grow upright, and are usually coarse or wavy. The legs often have light feathering behind the fetlocks.

Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Garrano horses in Horse Isle (not bred ones). In rare cases, horses might have metrics outside of the range. Breeders can produce horses that are beyond this range.

Speed: 13.6-14.7, 14.1 (0.2), 0.05.
Sprint: 35-47, 41 (2), 0.48.

Accel: 0.82-1.03, 0.92 (0.05), 0.01.
Decel: 0.82-0.98, 0.90 (0.03), 0.01.

Jump: 4.68-5.04, 4.85 (0.06), 0.01.
Pull: 1.64-2.26, 1.95 (0.13), 0.02.

Turning: 41.59-54.26, 48.21 (2.81), 0.55.
Reverse: 2.0-2.7, 2.4 (0.1), 0.03.

Stamina: 48.33-52.55, 50.38 (0.88), 0.17.
Reaction: 0.70-0.81, 0.76 (0.02), 0.00.

Coats & Height:
Colors: usually bay in color, but they can also be black, brown, and, in rare cases, chestnut. The coat is always dark.

Additionals: flaxen, sooty.
Markings note: white markings are rare and limited in size, which is why, in Horse Isle, Garrano ponies with too loud markings are disqualified from registration.

Height: 12hh to 13.1hh.