The Pottok House: Discovering a small horse, a treasure of the Basque Country

Pottoks, nature, mountains… this is the beautiful paradise passionately defended by Michel Laforêt at his Pottok reserve in Bidarray. Living in the highest house in the mountains, he invites you to discover his world of small, elegant, short-legged black horses in a privileged setting of freedom. Between protection, promotion, transmission, and preservation, Michel is a man with a heart of gold, deeply in love with the Basque Country and the Pottoks. Join him on his wonderful adventure to preserve the Vasco Pottoka pony and its heritage.

The Pottok House, a tribute to these small horses of the Basque Country since 1992

Prepare to experience a unique encounter with these special equines that are an integral part of the region's culture. The Pottok, a small mountain horse, is a very old breed known as the "Cantabrian Pyrenean," meaning "little horse," and pronounced "pottiok." This emblematic pony of La Rhune is sadly endangered due to controversial breeding practices by breeders who seek to modify the Pottok's original characteristics to produce larger, more athletic horses with varied coat colors. The horses found in the Basque mountains are rarely of the original type, the primitive black Pottok, better known as the "Poni Vasco Pottoka" in the Southern Basque Country on the Spanish side, as only a few ponies are registered as purebred Pottoka in the Northern Basque Country on the French side. This authentic, endangered Pottok is indeed characterized by its slender build, black coat, muscular build, and, above all, small size, with a height at the withers between 1.10 and 1.30 meters. A long back, a sloping rump, and eyes set high for eating with heads down while keeping a watchful eye out for approaching bears or wolves—this is the essence of the only pure and authentic breed of the true, original, primitive Pottok. Keep your eyes peeled to recognize them easily; they roam freely in groups.

The House of Pottok, a unique conservation program in Europe

From a very young age, Michel Laforêt was fascinated by these small black horses roaming freely in the mountains. Unfortunately, crossbreeding with different breeds has distanced subsequent generations from the original Pottok breed, giving way to larger horses with varied coat colors, far removed from the iconic Poni Vasco Pottoka of the Basque Country. The gradual disappearance of this unique ancestral strain through genetic pollution prompted him to create the private reserve of the Maison du Pottok in Bidarray in 1993, in a natural setting. Its objective is to preserve and reintroduce the Poni Vasco Pottoka to the heart of the Basque mountains. This long-term project is made possible by a conservation herd and a breeding program of purebred Poni Vasco Pottoka stallions, allowing for crossbreeding of this very old and endangered ancestral strain. This heritage and environmental initiative has been supported by the Ministry of the Environment, which awarded it the "Merci dit la Planète" (Thank You, Planet) label. More than a passionate volunteer, Michel is a guardian of memory who knows the history of the Pottok inside and out, having discovered the Pottok when Paul Dutournier, former mayor of Sare and defender of this small Basque horse, offered a foal to George Pompidou in 1969.

The Pottok House, a purebred mountain breed in danger

As you can see, the situation is worrying, and the small, original black Pottok pony is threatened with extinction in its natural habitat. This alarming observation has spurred breeders in the Southern Basque Country to embark on a fierce battle to save the Poni Vasco Pottoka from disappearing through the EPOFE federation. Since 1995, the Poni Vasco Pottoka has been recognized as a purebred with at least three complete, stable, and homogeneous generations, free from crossbreeding, thus preserving the authenticity of the ancestral Pottok of yesteryear. This fascinating but time-consuming work continues today thanks to passionate individuals who have joined forces to reintroduce and preserve the original Pottok in its natural habitat, while in Bidarray, only a few horses are still registered as true original Pottoks, this wonderful and unique breed. Fortunately, since 2025, a second conservation herd of purebred horses has emerged in the mountains between Espelette and Itxassou, allowing the Northern Basque Country to contribute effectively to the conservation of the Vasco Pottoka Poni.

The House of the Pottok, a plea for help to preserve a breed from the past

Nature and horse lovers, open your eyes wide to admire the incredible beauty of the mountains and the sea, a splendid view that unfolds before you at the Maison du Pottok. During your walks and hikes, you'll surely have the chance to encounter some horses, and perhaps even the Original Type Pottok roaming freely in the mountains or the verdant meadows of the Basque Country. If you share this desire to preserve the Original Type Pottok in its natural habitat, here's how to recognize an authentic Pottok if you happen to meet one:

• Coat : Plain, black or dark brown with reddish highlights in the mane.
• Morphology : Small, angular horse, longer than tall with very fine limbs.
• Hair : Stiff, both for the mane and the tail.
• Croup : Simple and sloping.
• Hooves : Four small black hooves with very hard horn, with little hair in summer at the back under the fetlock.
• Head : Long and straight, with forward-set ears and high-set dark eyes.
• Facial Details : A hollow on the forehead at eye level and a bump on the nose with a smaller, triangular lower lip.

Please take photos of the ponies' front, side, and back views if they match this description and send them to the French Vasco Pottoka Poni Association, also indicating their location. These identified ponies represent the hope of saving this endangered breed through extensive conservation efforts in which you can play a part. Your help is invaluable !

If you would like to learn more or even contribute to the preservation of this incredible ancestral breed from the past, by starting a breeding program or conservation project, please do not hesitate to contact the French Association of the Vasco Pottoka Poni. This team of passionate volunteers will help you find primitive Pottoks, particularly from breeders in the Southern Basque Country of Spain, and will be delighted to share their love for this exceptional little horse with you. The Association, led by Michel Laforêt, also lends stallions free of charge to perpetuate the breed.

The Pottok is a true symbol of freedom and of the rich Basque heritage that must absolutely be preserved.

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