The Konik (Polish: konik polski or konik biłgorajski) or the Polish primitive horse is a pony breed from Poland that lives semi-feral in some regions. The Polish word konik (plural koniki) is the diminutive of koń, the Polish word for “horse” (sometimes confused with kuc, kucyk meaning “pony”). However, the name “konik” or “Polish konik” is used to refer to certain specific breeds. Koniks show many primitive markings, including a dun coat and dorsal stripe.
Koniks in the U.K. were placed in Wicken Fen near Cambridge by the National Trust. Due to the efforts of the Wildwood Trust, a charity which operates the Wildwood Discovery Park, and the Kent Wildlife Trust, Koniks also now live on several additional reserves, including the Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, Ham Fen National Nature Reserve, Whitehall Meadow, Sandwich Bay, and Park Gate Down. In addition, the Suffolk Wildlife Trust introduced Polish Koniks for grazing as part of a broad restoration project of the Redgrave and Lopham Fen. Sussex Wildlife Trust have recently introduced a small herd in and around the Mount Caburn nature reserve.The RSPB have introduced koniks to Minsmere, Blacktoft Sands reserve and to Portmore Lough, Northern Ireland. In 2016 Koniks were introduced to Floodplains Forest Nature Reserve in Milton Keynes by the Parks Trust.
