Technically this animal is a pony due to its height, but in the Faroe Islands it is called a horse because of its strength.

[2] The colours of the pony may vary, but they are mainly chestnut brown, black or speckled, with some white ones found in previous populations.

It was previously used to carry or haul heavy loads at farms and some sources also describe it being trained to herd sheep (known as tøkuhestar).

One of the reasons was an extensive horse export from 1850 - 1920, for use in the mining industry (as pit ponies) in the United Kingdom.

A conservation and breeding program was initiated by Leivur T. Hansen and in 1978 the organization Felagið Føroysk Ross (Breeders of Faroe Ponies) was established.