Two ponies grazing beside the water make a memorable Scalloway scene. Seeing these small animals in their island setting is one of the pleasures of exploring Shetland, but a photograph should be treated as a glimpse of a particular moment, not a promise that ponies will always be in the same field.
Where might you see Shetland ponies?
Promote Shetland names Scalloway and nearby Tingwall among the areas where visitors can generally see ponies. Other locations include the West Mainland, Dunrossness and Unst. Look out for them as part of your wider travels rather than building a journey around an unconfirmed roadside sighting. Promote Shetland’s pony guide.
They are owned animals
Although ponies can look as though they roam wild, they are owned and cared for by local crofters. A field containing ponies is not automatically a visitor attraction, and seeing animals from the road does not mean you have permission to approach or handle them. About Shetland’s ponies.
Our recommendation is to watch quietly from an appropriate public vantage point. Do not offer food or attempt to touch a pony without its keeper’s permission. If children are with you, explain that a good encounter can simply mean watching the animals graze.
Plan a visit if ponies are a priority
If meeting ponies is an important part of your holiday, arrange a visit with a provider who can confirm what is available. Promote Shetland’s guide links to the Shetland Pony Breeders’ stud directory, which is a starting point for enquiries rather than a list of places open for drop-in visits. Confirm access, booking arrangements and whether interaction is included before travelling. Find pony information and breeder links.
Take photographs without disturbing them
Give the animals room and use your camera’s zoom rather than trying to draw them closer. Keep gates and entrances clear, and choose a proper place to stop before taking photographs from a roadside location.
The wider setting is part of the picture too. A view that includes the water, hills or village can tell more about a visit to Scalloway than a close-up alone. Leave with your photographs and let the ponies carry on grazing.
