The Manipur State Government has recently joined hands with various organisations and associations to save the Manipuri Pony or Meitei Sagol, its fabled equine, from vanishing into the pages of history.
Key points
- The Manipuri Pony Conservation and Development Policy (MPCDP) was framed in 2016, in order to conserve the Manipuri Pony.
- The Meitei Sagol is one of the seven recognised horse and pony breeds of India. The others include the Marwari Horse, the Kathiawari Horse, the Zanskari Pony, the Spiti Pony, the Bhutia Pony and the Kachhi-Sindhi Horse.
- Shrinkage of wetlands, the natural habitat of the Manipuri Pony due to rapid urbanisation and encroachment; lack of polo grounds/polo playing areas in rural Manipur; restriction of pony usage except in the game of polo are some factors for the decline of the pony in the state.
- The Manipur government declared the Manipuri Pony as an Endangered Breed in 2013.
- The breed is regarded as the original polo pony as modern polo is derived from the traditional Sagol Kangjei sport of Manipur.
