The Hackney originated in Norfolk, England, bred by prosperous farmers seeking to improve the quality and trotting speed of their carriage horses. Around 1760, an existing local breed, the Norfolk Trotter, was crossed with Thoroughbred stock, and over the next 50 years the Hackney was developed as a distinct breed. The breed flourished in Britain throughout the 1800s due in part to the emphasis on swift, light carriage, and riding transport, and by 1878 the Hackney had found its way to the United States.

Hackney ponies range from 12.2 hands to 14.2 hands in height, while the modern Hackney horse stands over 14.2 hands tall. The horse and pony types can be black, brown, bay, or even chestnut in color. The Hackney pony’s hallmark is its fluid trot with high knee and hock action. Hackney ponies are divided into four competitive categories: the Hackney pony; the harness pony; the roadster pony; and the pleasure pony. The Hackney horse, like the Hackney pony, is a versatile performer that excels in carriage and combined driving events, as well as in the show ring under saddle.