It was greatly influenced by the native British breeds, especially the Welsh Pony, as well as some Arabian bloodlines.

The head is distinctly 'pony', full of show quality, with alert ears and large, dark eyes.

[1] Since the continent had no native horses or ponies prior to the arrival of European explorers and settlers, all equidae that now live there are from imported stock.

[2] In 1803, the first Timor Ponies arrived from Indonesia, and provided the foundation stock for the breed.

In the mid-1960s the APSB opened sections for Welsh Mountain and Connemara ponies and catered for some other European breeds later.