LOCAL AM Paul Davies is lobbying for special status to safeguard the future of Preseli's iconic ponies.

The semi‐wild ponies that roam the mountain range have long been a feature of tourism brochures and postcards of the area. But it's feared that new EU legislation requiring every new foal to be microchipped at a cost of between £25 to £35 may lead to them being abandoned.

"There are worries that this financial burden and extra red tape will threaten the very existence of these semi‐wild ponies," said Mr Davies.

In England, DEFRA has already succeeded in getting an exemption for the Exmoor and New Forest ponies but the Welsh Assembly Government has not yet acted to give similar status to Welsh horses and ponies.

"The cost of getting them microchipped, not to mention the hassle, means that some owners simply may not bother," said Mr Davies.

"Why pay up to £50 for a chip to be fitted by a vet for a pony that is worth less than £50? Owners won't be able to afford to do it and we could be facing a severe welfare issue if they are abandoned. These ponies also play a vital role in grazing the mountains and are an important part of the biodiversity of the area."

Groups including the National Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission are also pressing for Welsh semi‐feral ponies to be ruled exempt.