The drift is an age old way of accounting for the ponies on the moor.
In a paper, “The Purchase of Dartmoor,” by William Frederick Collier, (read at Ashburton in July 1896), he says “The ponies on Dartmoor are well worth the attention of those who would manage the Commons. I fear they are deteriorating now, for want of management . They have also been ousted from some of their best pasturage. If attention were paid to their breeding, the Dartmoor pony would become a very valuable animal.”

Meanwhile in 1893, the Polo Pony Society had been formed, (changing to the Polo and Riding Pony Society in 1901 and the National Pony Society in 1913.) From the very beginning there was an interest in Mountain and Moorland ponies, but it has to be said mainly from the point of view of, “foundation stock.”

Polo Pony Stud Book Volume 1 (Printed in 1894)
…….. this Stud Book was formed for the registration of all Ponies suitable for “riding” purposes ……. At present there is no distinct breed of “riding” ponies. ……. High trotting harness action is not required, in fact, it is an objection in most cases when breeding “riding “ Ponies”. ……
As one of the great difficulties in breeding Polo ponies is to keep the height within the limit, pure small pony blood, especially as foundation stock becomes the more valuable, so that the Dartmoor, Exmoor New Forest, Church Stretton Hills, and Highland-bred ponies must not be overlooked …….

Later in Volume 5 (1898-1899), of The Polo Pony Stud Book, much thought was being given to the registration of the various native breeds of British Ponies. The Dartmoor Division consisted of, ”The Dartmoor Committee,…… who have kindly supplied a description of the Dartmoor pony:-
HEIGHT – Not exceeding 14 hands for Stallions, 13.2 for Mares,
COLOUR – Brown, black or bay preferred; grey allowable; other colours objectionable.
HEAD – Should be small and well set on, and bloodlike.
NECK – Strong, but not too heavy, and neither long nor short; and in case of a Stallion with moderate crest.
BACK, Loins and Hind Quarters – Strong and well covered with muscle
(NOTE – At this time, in the Dartmoor Section a stallion Hotspur 152 (Hackney 2119), was registered.

In 1902 the Dartmoor Committee resolved that any pony known to have more than a quarter of alien blood should not be passed, but should as far as possible adhere to Dartmoor Ponies of the riding type.)

From British Native Ponies and Their Crosses by Phyllis Hinton
……” The late Captain Oscar Muntz, one of the men appointed in 1905, brought various pony stallions into the district for experimental purposes, (The) Mikado, a 13 h.h. Fell, sired a useful pony but without the Dartmoor quality, and left much hardy stock and some prize winners, shown as registered Dartmoors. The most outstanding of Captain Muntz’s successes, however was a 12 h.h. Welsh Mountain stallion, Punchinello, (my note, not to be confused with Punchinello late Polo King, 1899 by The Bey) and this pony, after populating the Tavistock moor area, went to the Bodmin Moors where he achieved similar success and died there. As late as 1926 he was a tradition on the Cornish moors and sired some beautiful show ponies.”

Then came Lord Polo, who also ran on the moor, in the Tavistock area.

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THE DARTMOOR PONY SOCIETY was formed in 1925
(this extract is taken from Volume 25 of The National Pony Stud Book 1945 – 1947)

Description of Pony:
The typical height runs from 11.2 h.h. to 12.0 h.h, and ponies of that height can carry men easily. The maximum height is 12.2 h.h. both for mares and stallions. The colours preferred are bay, brown and black ; grey is rare. The head should be small and keen, with alert small ears, medium length of neck and good riding shoulders. Good medium bone and the soundest and strongest of feet. Tail well set up and full. Very full mane and tail for stallions. Essentially a riding pony, the Dartmoor has always been used by the Moorland farmers and small-holders for carrying them over the rocks boulders and steep hill-sides, being both sure-footed and active.

“Dartmoors are excellent for small children but early handling is necessary for this, so says “Miss Calmady-Hamlyn
Extract from Rules for Registration.
Note : All registrations must come through the Dartmoor Pony Society
Ponies can be registered in the Dartmoor section of the National Pony Stud book provided both sire and dam are so registered. All other ponies must be inspected by two of the of The Dartmoor Pony Society’s Inspectors ……
Pie and skewbalds are not registered

Principal Shows. Bath and West; Devon County; Okehampton; National Pony Society’s Show London
Principal Sales. Princetown; Tavistock; Changford; Ashburton in the Autumn

Official description of the Dartmoor Pony by Miss S. Calmady-Hamlyn (2nd Edition published 1952)
HEIGHT not exceeding 12.2 h.h.
COLOUR bay, black or brown preferred, but no colour bar except Skewbalds and Piebalds
HEAD should be small and well set on and bloodlike
NECK strong, but not too heavy, and neither long nor short – stallions moderate crest.
BACK, LOINS AND HINDQUARTERS, strong ans well covered with muscle
EARS, very small and alert.
FEET, tough and good shaped.
ACTION, low, free, typical hack or riding action.
TAIL, set high and full

In 1939 The Dartmoor Pony Society carried out a cull of all but its best ponies.

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DARTMOOR CROSSES

Mrs Muntz believed that the first and second crosses, (with thoroughbred blood), made the perfect child’s pony, an example of this is to be found in the produce of, 5618 Foxhams Blue Fairy with the foaling of Fairy Love and Fairy Spell. I have no further information on these ponies.

It has always been said within the family, that Mrs Muntz became increasing unhappy about the plight of the Dartmoor ponies, and that she purchased many to save them from the meat market. I have not been able to substantiate this but her concern for them was very real.

Sadly in later years, 1998 to be precise, Dartmoor ponies were being sold for £2 each as food for animals in safari parks. In a very interesting article from the Daily Mail dated October 3rd, 1998 by June Southworth says “More than half of the foals will be colts because many of the fillies will go back on the moors for breeding ….. For 30 years the ponies were snapped up by the meat trade. They were slaughtered, de-boned and shipped out as boxed, chilled meat for human consumption in Fance and Italy …… Only the pure-bred pony is deemed worthy of preservation …..”

More information can be found in Unnamed Dartmoor Ponies.