Imphal, September 25: To preserve and show case the unique Manipuri Pony to the outside world as well as to the people of the State, a Heritage Pony Park is set to come up at a 7.35 acre of land near the Manipur Zoological Garden.

The Heritage Pony Park will be established under the All Manipur Polo Association, which was hitherto known as the All Manipur Polo Club.

The 7.35 acre of land was earlier gifted by the State Government to the Association for the upkeep of the rare Manipuri Pony.

Though the area for the Pony Park is not that spacious plans are afoot to include a breeding centre, a riding area and a track expanding to the grand stand and barn acres, said an official source and added that plans are also to set up a museum and a gallery to display the age old glory of and legendary Manipur Pony.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has already dubbed the Manipuri Pony as 'One of the purest and prestigious breed of Equines of India.' It is also the only recorded and living 'original poly Pony of the world.' Stating that the Park will serve as a mini sanctuary for Manipuri Pony, the source said that students of the adjacent Central Agricultural University can avail the opportunity of studying the pure breed pony in close proximity.

Visitors to the Manipur Zoological Garden will also have the added advantage of seeing the heritage pony of the State.

The park will be fenced and a 1.5 mile horse trail will also be built across the Iroishemba hillock while planting trees and landscaping will be initiated, added the source.

The 7.35 acres of land was initially allotted to the Polo Club for breeding Pony but as the area is too small and as the NEC had already released Rs 50 lakhs for a Pony breeding centre at Tingkhai Khunou, the area at Iroishemba could not be utilised for breeding ponies, said the source.

Despite the handicaps, the All Manipur Polo Association has been safeguarding the 7.35 acres of land gifted by the State Government, said the source.

To ward off encroachers and to stop any Government plans to take over the land, the Association had turned the area into a paddy field as a temporary measure, explained the source.

The cultivation work being taken up at the site is not for earning money money for private parties, said the source and added that whatever little income is generated from the field is used for the upkeep of ponies and polo players.

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