Races
Especially associated with Dwarves and Hobbits, due to their smaller stature Species
Any of several smaller varieties of the horse ( Equus ferus caballus) Meaning
Derived from archaic French poulenet, 'little foal', probably ultimately from Latin pullus, 'young animal'1
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 19 March 2022
- Updates planned: 1
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Ponies
Short, stocky pack animals
Common beasts of burden in Middle-earth, especially used by Hobbits and Dwarves, whose small stature made it difficult for them to ride larger horses.
| Bill |
Originally kept by Bill Ferny in Bree, this pony was sold for a hefty sum to Frodo and his companions after their own ponies were lost. It was cared for by Sam Gamgee far better than by its original owner, and it followed the Fellowship faithfully as far as Moria, where Sam was forced to leave it behind. Bill was able to find its way back northwards and return to Bree. |
| Bumpkin |
One of five2 ponies that set out with Frodo and his companions into the Old Forest and onto the Barrow-downs. The Hobbits were captured by a Barrow-wight, and their riderless ponies strayed on the Downs. Tom Bombadil came to the Hobbits' rescue, and gathered the wandering ponies, calling them by names that their owners had not heard before. Thus Bumpkin earned its name, alongside his companions Sharp-ears, Swish-tail, Wise-nose and White-socks. All five completed the journey to Bree, but were driven out of the stables there and wandered across the Bree-land, eventually finding their way back to Tom Bombadil and ultimately into the service of Barliman Butterbur. |
| Fatty Lumpkin |
Tom Bombadil's own faithful old pony was particular large, strong and stocky for an animal of its kind. Fatty Lumpkin (sometimes just called 'Lumpkin') spent much of its life wandering the wilds near Bombadil's house, and was rarely ridden, but would come when called. Tom Bombadil brought Fatty Lumpkin to the Barrow-downs when he rescued the Hobbits from the Wight, and he rode the pony as he escorted the Hobbits away from the Barrows. |
| Sharp-ears |
One of the five ponies of the Hobbits named by Tom Bombadil. See Bumpkin above. |
| Strider |
A pony given to Frodo Baggins in Minas Tirith after the War of the Ring, named following the alias used by Aragorn as a Ranger. Frodo rode the pony from Minas Tirith northward across Middle-earth to the Shire. After nearly a year in the Shire, Strider carried his master westward to the Grey Havens, where Frodo went aboard the White Ship and sailed away into the West. |
| Stybba |
A pony reared by the Rohirrim for riding mountain paths, with a name in their language that means 'stubby' or 'stumpy'. Stybba was ridden by Meriadoc Brandybuck when he accompanied Théoden and his host after the Battle of the Hornburg, travelling from Helm's Deep to Dunharrow and then Edoras. Merry left the pony at Edoras, riding on to Minas Tirith on the horse of the Rider known as Dernhelm. |
Swish-tail
White-socks
Wise-nose |
These all belonged to the five ponies of the Hobbits named by Tom Bombadil. See Bumpkin above. |
Notes
1 |
The connection with foals and other young animals is merely due to the size of a pony, which will remain smaller than a full-sized horse even into adulthood.
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2 |
Before the Hobbits set out from Frodo's house in Crickhollow, Merry Brandybuck reported that there were six ponies waiting for them in the stables, but in all further references they are numbered as five, and Tom Bombadil only counts off five names for the ponies. The implication seems to be that the sixth was ridden by Fredegar Bolger, who accompanied Frodo and the others as far as the Hedge on Buckland's border, and then returned to Crickhollow. This sixth pony thus never reached the Barrow-downs, and was never given a name by Tom Bombadil.
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See also...
Barrel-rider, Bill, Bob, Bucklebury Ferry, Bumpkin, Donkeys, Fatty Lumpkin, Forsaken Inn, Frodo Baggins, Kíli, Last Bridge, Sharp-ears, Silver Pennies, Strider, Stybba, [See the full list...]Swish-tail, The Pony, Tom Bombadil, White-socks, Wise-nose
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 19 March 2022
- Updates planned: 1
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