Dowlais Pony Improvement Society, located in Merthyr Tydfil, is an active Hill Pony Improvement Society dedicated to the well-being and improvement of ponies on the Northern side of the Merthyr Common. The common consists of rugged terrain and extends to approximately 1000–1500 feet above sea level.
Every year, Dowlais Pony Improvement Society hosts an annual show on August Bank Holiday in the beautiful grounds of Cyfarthfa Park in Merthyr Tydfil. Cyfarthfa Castle, the former home of the Crawshay family, is located in the park which spans approximately 160 acres of scenic parkland. Though it may appear as a fortified building, Cyfarthfa Castle is actually a house designed in the style of a grand mansion.
The Dowlais Pony Improvement Society's website aims to provide visitors with up-to-date information on upcoming events, photographs, details of ponies, and the history of the breed. The website also includes records of Premium stallions used by the society over the past sixty years. Additionally, there are pages dedicated to pony sales and contact information for other active “Hill Pony Improvement Societies in Wales.
While the website does not have a forum or discussion board, the society welcomes feedback, views, and photographs from visitors. The website is meant for informational purposes only. The society expresses gratitude to show exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council for their contributions in making the annual show a success.
Dowlais Pony Improvement Society has a rich history dating back to the 1950s. The recorded minutes from the Welsh Pony and Cob Society in 1952 show an application by the secretary, Mr. Ronnie King, of the Dowlais Pony Club (Bryniau), to be registered as the Dowlais & Twynyrodyn Pony Improvement Society. The society was officially accepted and recorded in the 1953 WPCS Stud Book.
During the 1950s, the society had a membership of sixty individuals consisting mainly of mineworkers, steelworkers, and rail workers.
The Dowlais Pony Club was initially formed around 1890 near the settlement of Pengarnddu, near Dowlais. While written records of the society from this time are limited, historical information has been sourced from older records and sources.
Dowlais Pony Improvement Society is dedicated to maintaining the welfare and improvement of the hill ponies in the area while preserving the breed's history and heritage.