From Polo glory to street despair : Will Manipur save its sacred Pony ?
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Dr Raj Singh
On 22 November this year, as the 15th Manipur International Polo Tournament opens at Mapal Kangjeibung, the “oldest living polo ground in the world”, the stands will once again fill with colour, camera flashes and cheering crowds. Teams from across India and abroad will ride out under the winter sun in Imphal, playing on the very breed that gave the world its first polo pony.
But if this grand week, 22 - 29 November 2025, remains merely an annual event of jerseys, trophies and speeches, it will have failed its most urgent moral duty: to become a serious global conclave on how to save the Manipuri pony itself.
Because outside the festive lights of the tournament, the reality is brutal. Step away from Mapal Kangjeibung and you will find ponies nosing through garbage piles near traffic junctions, wandering confused between cars, or standing in the middle of the road with scars from past accidents. Local reports describe ponies routinely seen “on the streets and going through piles of garbage for food,” a living testimony to failed conservation.
This is the contradiction that should haunt us during this year’s tournament: the birthplace of modern polo may become the graveyard of the original polo pony.
The pony that carried Manipur into world history
Long before polo became a sport of maharajas and millionaires, Manipur’s Meiteis were playing Sagol Kangjei, a fast, physical game on horseback, with seven players a side and no goalposts, only the open ends of the field.
British officers stationed in Manipur in the 19th century watched this indigenous game with astonishment. They adapted its basic structure, formalized rules, reduced teams to four, and carried the sport to clubs in Silchar and then Calcutta. From there, polo travelled to England and the rest of the world. Manipur thus sits, quite literally, at the origin of modern polo.
At the heart of that story is the Manipuri pony (Meitei Sagol) - small, sure-footed, endlessly agile. Used once in warfare and ritual as well as play, it appears in royal chronicles and mythology and is today one of only five recognized equine breeds of India, famous for stamina, intelli- gence and manoeuvrability.
When foreign players at the Manipur International Polo Tournament swap their tall thoroughbreds for these compact ponies, they often remark how quick, responsive and brave they are. It should be a moment of pride for every Manipuri. Instead, it is increasingly tinged with guilt.
A steep decline in hard numbers
The crisis is not a vague fear; it’s recorded in census after census.
1) In 2003, the 17th Livestock Census counted 1,898 Manipuri ponies in the state.
2) By 2007, that dropped to around 1,218.
3) By 2019, official figures suggest only 1,089 remained.
4) A recent scientific estimate using FAO criteria places the population at barely 994 individuals, firmly in the “endangered” zone.
Concerned by this free fall, the Manipur government declared the Manipuri pony an “Endangered Breed” in 2013, and in 2016 framed the Manipuri Pony Conservation and Development Policy (MPCDP) to guide its protection.
On paper, this looks promising. On the ground, as anyone who walks through Imphal can see, it has not been enough.
Why are ponies eating garbage instead of grass?
Multiple independent studies, news reports and even court documents list the same cluster of threats:
Shrinking wetlands and grazing land
Urbanization has swallowed up traditional grazing areas in the Imphal valley, the wetlands like Lamphelpat and other open spaces where ponies once roamed freely. These lands have been converted into colonies, offices, markets and infrastructure projects.
Lack of polo fields and rural sports culture
Outside Imphal, there are too few polo grounds or organized competitions, so rural demand for ponies has fallen. Many young people no longer see value in keeping them.
Restriction of use and no alternative livelihoods
Regulations and social pressure mean ponies are now used almost exclusively for polo, not for transport or work, which once gave them economic relevance. Without new income streams-tourism, leisure riding, therapy- the cost of keeping a pony becomes a burden for families.
Disease, accidents and plastic
With no systematic veterinary network, vaccination or emergency care, ponies suffer from diseases and injuries. Wandering along busy roads, they are hit by vehicles; eating from garbage piles, they ingest plastic and other harmful waste.
Weak implementation of policy
Under the MPCDP, the government even allotted 30 acres of Lamphelpat as a grazing field, but local accounts say the field remains underdeveloped and poorly managed. Owners complain of “poor implementation” and say that, despite the policy, the pony’s fate remains uncertain.
In 2024, the Government again joined hands with organizations and associa- tions, promising new steps-a dedicated task force, a fresh census, and stronger protection measures. Those are welcome moves, but they risk becoming just another file in the Secretariat unless they are matched with sustained funding, political will and public ownership.
The emotional cost: a broken bond
For generations, Manipuri children grew up seeing ponies as part of their extended family life - tied in the courtyard, grazing in the fields, painted and decorated during rituals, galloping during festivals. Today, many children encounter ponies first as obstructions on the road, then as pictures in a textbook, hitting them with an uncomfortable truth: “endangered breed.”
Imagine a pony that once carried a polo captain during the Sangai Festival being found a few years later, limping, ribs showing, dragging itself towards a pile of plastic-rich waste near a drain. That is not an abstract symbol; it is a betrayal of a living being that trusted us.
Local articles from 2025 describe ponies “as a traffic and health hazard” because they are left to fend for themselves on streets and garbage heaps. Read another way, this is not just a hazard for humans; it is a humiliation for the animal that carried Manipur’s name into global sports history.
What has been tried so far?
To be fair, Manipur has not been silent.
1) The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA) has, since the 1970s, promoted polo and conducted pony censuses, and now organizes the annual Manipur International Polo Tournament, drawing teams from across the world.
2) The Government has set up statues, parks and a pony complex near Marjing Hill, and periodically supports feeding schemes and vaccination drives.
3) New resolutions in 2024 talk of stronger protection, collaboration with civil society, and immediate action for pony safety.
4) Yet the ground reality tells us these steps have not yet added up to a living, breathing conservation system. The pony is still treated more as a ceremonial icon than as a species that needs year-round habitat, health-care and economic logic.
Learning from the world : How others saved their horses
Manipur is not alone in trying to save a native horse or pony breed. There are powerful examples to borrow from:
1. Mongolia : Horse at the heart of culture and tourism
In Mongolia, horses are central to National identity, nomadic life and tourism. Riding holidays, horse treks and equestrian festivals like Naadam attract visitors precisely because they offer authentic contact with traditional horses and riders.
The lesson for Manipur is simple : the pony must stand at the centre of our tourism story, not just as background decoration during the Sangai Festival.
2. Iceland: Equestrian tourism as a serious industry
Iceland has built a strong equestrian tourism economy around the Icelandic horse, with around 160 businesses offering riding tours for domestic and international tourists. Horse-based tourism there is not a hobby; it is a structured sector that supports breeders, guides, guest houses and rural livelihoods.
3. Argentina: Turning polo horses into a major export
Argentina has become a global powerhouse in polo horse breeding. Between 2014 and 2023, it exported over 28,000 horses, earning more than US$260 million, with polo horses making up the bulk of equine exports.
No one is suggesting Manipur should copy this scale. But it shows what is possible when a country takes its polo horses seriously as an economic asset.
4. UK native ponies : Conservation grazing and stud books
In the UK, breeds like the Exmoor and Dartmoor ponies are protected through breed societies that maintain detailed stud books, regulate breeding and use ponies in “conservation grazing” schemes on moorlands. This model combines ecology (grazing to maintain habitats), economics (leasing ponies) and genetics (preserving bloodlines).
Manipur can adapt these elements to its own geography and culture.
A practical roadmap to save the Manipuri pony
So what should change - starting with this year’s tournament ?
1. Turn the International Polo Tournament into a Pony Summit
During the 22–29 November event, reserve one full day as a Manipuri Pony Conclave: Invite conservation scientists, policymakers, club owners, pony owners and international polo bodies. Present updated census data, health reports and habitat maps. Announce measurable targets - say, raising the population from ~1,000 to 1,500 in ten years backed by budget lines, not just speeches.
This is the ideal platform : The world already comes to Imphal to play. Let them help save the pony too.
2. Create a Manipuri Pony Authority with real teeth
Instead of scattering responsibility across departments, form a dedicated authority to:
a) Maintain a digital pony registry
b) Oversee microchipping and vaccination
c) Manage grazing reserves like Lamphelpat
d) Coordinate rescues and road safety
e) Work with villages, clubs and NGOs
Such an authority could be anchored under Animal Husbandry but given cross-departmental powers, drawing directly from the MPCDP provisions.
3. Expand and truly develop grazing reserves
The 30 acres at Lamphelpat must be more than a line in a Cabinet decision. It should be:
a) Fully fenced and protected from encroachment
b) Restored as a wetland-grassland habitat
c) Equipped with water points, shelters and vet posts
d) Managed jointly by local communities, pony owners and the State
Over time, additional satellite grazing pockets around Imphal valley can create a network of safe habitats.
4. Build a pony-centred tourism circuit
Imagine a visitor itinerary that includes:
a) A guided tour of Mapal Kangjeibung, explai-ning polo’s Manipuri roots
b) Valiant demonstration of Arambai Dart throwing by Manipuri horsemen in Meitei warrior costume
c) A visit to Marjing Hill and a living pony reserve
d) A short, carefully supervised pony ride or demonstration
e) A multi-media story session on Sagol Kangjei and Meitei mythology
f) Homestays in pony-owning families
This combines pride, livelihood and education. The same infrastructure can host riding camps for Manipuri children, strengthening local emotional bonds with the animal.
5. Support owners directly: feed, health, and incentives
Without pony owners, no policy can succeed. The State can:
a) Subsidize fodder during lean seasons
b) Provide free vaccinations and deworming camps
c) Offer cash incentives or tax rebates to registered pony keepers
d) Introduce a “Adopt a Pony” scheme where individuals and companies sponsor the care of specific ponies through a transparent portal
Such measures convert moral responsibility into practical support.
6. Integrate ponies into urban planning and road safety
Municipal and PWD plans must recognize ponies as part of the city’s living fabric:
a) Install warning signs and speed restrictions in pony-crossing zones
b) Design “green corridors” that link grazing pockets
c) Enforce anti-cruelty laws and penalize reckless drivers who injure animals
The goal is not to push ponies out of sight, but to allow them to live safely within a shared landscape.
Guarding pride, not just memories
In a way, the Manipuri pony is running two races at once. On the polo ground, it still runs with astonishing grace, carrying local and foreign players under the roar of crowds, reminding everyone that this is where polo was born. Off the field, it is racing against vanishing wetlands, shrinking budgets and public indifference.
If Manipur succeeds in saving the pony, it will do more than preserve a breed. It will prove that a small State, battered by conflict and neglect, can still protect something precious and offer it proudly to the world - not as a relic, but as a living, breathing companion.
As the first whistle blows on 22 November, perhaps we should ask ourselves a simple question:
When future generations watch polo at Mapal Kangjeibung, will they see the Manipuri pony only in statues and photographs - or still feel its warm breath, hear its hooves, and know that we chose to stand by it when it needed us most?
(The author is a Manipuri expat settled in Canada. He can be reached at [email protected])
On 22 November this year, as the 15th Manipur International Polo Tournament opens at Mapal Kangjeibung, the “oldest living polo ground in the world”, the stands will once again fill with colour, camera flashes and cheering crowds. Teams from across India and abroad will ride out under the winter sun in Imphal, playing on the very breed that gave the world its first polo pony.
But if this grand week, 22 - 29 November 2025, remains merely an annual event of jerseys, trophies and speeches, it will have failed its most urgent moral duty: to become a serious global conclave on how to save the Manipuri pony itself.
Because outside the festive lights of the tournament, the reality is brutal. Step away from Mapal Kangjeibung and you will find ponies nosing through garbage piles near traffic junctions, wandering confused between cars, or standing in the middle of the road with scars from past accidents. Local reports describe ponies routinely seen “on the streets and going through piles of garbage for food,” a living testimony to failed conservation.
This is the contradiction that should haunt us during this year’s tournament: the birthplace of modern polo may become the graveyard of the original polo pony.
The pony that carried Manipur into world history
Long before polo became a sport of maharajas and millionaires, Manipur’s Meiteis were playing Sagol Kangjei, a fast, physical game on horseback, with seven players a side and no goalposts, only the open ends of the field.
British officers stationed in Manipur in the 19th century watched this indigenous game with astonishment. They adapted its basic structure, formalized rules, reduced teams to four, and carried the sport to clubs in Silchar and then Calcutta. From there, polo travelled to England and the rest of the world. Manipur thus sits, quite literally, at the origin of modern polo.
At the heart of that story is the Manipuri pony (Meitei Sagol) - small, sure-footed, endlessly agile. Used once in warfare and ritual as well as play, it appears in royal chronicles and mythology and is today one of only five recognized equine breeds of India, famous for stamina, intelli- gence and manoeuvrability.
When foreign players at the Manipur International Polo Tournament swap their tall thoroughbreds for these compact ponies, they often remark how quick, responsive and brave they are. It should be a moment of pride for every Manipuri. Instead, it is increasingly tinged with guilt.
A steep decline in hard numbers
The crisis is not a vague fear; it’s recorded in census after census.
1) In 2003, the 17th Livestock Census counted 1,898 Manipuri ponies in the state.
2) By 2007, that dropped to around 1,218.
3) By 2019, official figures suggest only 1,089 remained.
4) A recent scientific estimate using FAO criteria places the population at barely 994 individuals, firmly in the “endangered” zone.
Concerned by this free fall, the Manipur government declared the Manipuri pony an “Endangered Breed” in 2013, and in 2016 framed the Manipuri Pony Conservation and Development Policy (MPCDP) to guide its protection.
On paper, this looks promising. On the ground, as anyone who walks through Imphal can see, it has not been enough.
Why are ponies eating garbage instead of grass?
Multiple independent studies, news reports and even court documents list the same cluster of threats:
Shrinking wetlands and grazing land
Urbanization has swallowed up traditional grazing areas in the Imphal valley, the wetlands like Lamphelpat and other open spaces where ponies once roamed freely. These lands have been converted into colonies, offices, markets and infrastructure projects.
Lack of polo fields and rural sports culture
Outside Imphal, there are too few polo grounds or organized competitions, so rural demand for ponies has fallen. Many young people no longer see value in keeping them.
Restriction of use and no alternative livelihoods
Regulations and social pressure mean ponies are now used almost exclusively for polo, not for transport or work, which once gave them economic relevance. Without new income streams-tourism, leisure riding, therapy- the cost of keeping a pony becomes a burden for families.
Disease, accidents and plastic
With no systematic veterinary network, vaccination or emergency care, ponies suffer from diseases and injuries. Wandering along busy roads, they are hit by vehicles; eating from garbage piles, they ingest plastic and other harmful waste.
Weak implementation of policy
Under the MPCDP, the government even allotted 30 acres of Lamphelpat as a grazing field, but local accounts say the field remains underdeveloped and poorly managed. Owners complain of “poor implementation” and say that, despite the policy, the pony’s fate remains uncertain.
In 2024, the Government again joined hands with organizations and associa- tions, promising new steps-a dedicated task force, a fresh census, and stronger protection measures. Those are welcome moves, but they risk becoming just another file in the Secretariat unless they are matched with sustained funding, political will and public ownership.
The emotional cost: a broken bond
For generations, Manipuri children grew up seeing ponies as part of their extended family life - tied in the courtyard, grazing in the fields, painted and decorated during rituals, galloping during festivals. Today, many children encounter ponies first as obstructions on the road, then as pictures in a textbook, hitting them with an uncomfortable truth: “endangered breed.”
Imagine a pony that once carried a polo captain during the Sangai Festival being found a few years later, limping, ribs showing, dragging itself towards a pile of plastic-rich waste near a drain. That is not an abstract symbol; it is a betrayal of a living being that trusted us.
Local articles from 2025 describe ponies “as a traffic and health hazard” because they are left to fend for themselves on streets and garbage heaps. Read another way, this is not just a hazard for humans; it is a humiliation for the animal that carried Manipur’s name into global sports history.
What has been tried so far?
To be fair, Manipur has not been silent.
1) The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA) has, since the 1970s, promoted polo and conducted pony censuses, and now organizes the annual Manipur International Polo Tournament, drawing teams from across the world.
2) The Government has set up statues, parks and a pony complex near Marjing Hill, and periodically supports feeding schemes and vaccination drives.
3) New resolutions in 2024 talk of stronger protection, collaboration with civil society, and immediate action for pony safety.
4) Yet the ground reality tells us these steps have not yet added up to a living, breathing conservation system. The pony is still treated more as a ceremonial icon than as a species that needs year-round habitat, health-care and economic logic.
Learning from the world : How others saved their horses
Manipur is not alone in trying to save a native horse or pony breed. There are powerful examples to borrow from:
1. Mongolia : Horse at the heart of culture and tourism
In Mongolia, horses are central to National identity, nomadic life and tourism. Riding holidays, horse treks and equestrian festivals like Naadam attract visitors precisely because they offer authentic contact with traditional horses and riders.
The lesson for Manipur is simple : the pony must stand at the centre of our tourism story, not just as background decoration during the Sangai Festival.
2. Iceland: Equestrian tourism as a serious industry
Iceland has built a strong equestrian tourism economy around the Icelandic horse, with around 160 businesses offering riding tours for domestic and international tourists. Horse-based tourism there is not a hobby; it is a structured sector that supports breeders, guides, guest houses and rural livelihoods.
3. Argentina: Turning polo horses into a major export
Argentina has become a global powerhouse in polo horse breeding. Between 2014 and 2023, it exported over 28,000 horses, earning more than US$260 million, with polo horses making up the bulk of equine exports.
No one is suggesting Manipur should copy this scale. But it shows what is possible when a country takes its polo horses seriously as an economic asset.
4. UK native ponies : Conservation grazing and stud books
In the UK, breeds like the Exmoor and Dartmoor ponies are protected through breed societies that maintain detailed stud books, regulate breeding and use ponies in “conservation grazing” schemes on moorlands. This model combines ecology (grazing to maintain habitats), economics (leasing ponies) and genetics (preserving bloodlines).
Manipur can adapt these elements to its own geography and culture.
A practical roadmap to save the Manipuri pony
So what should change - starting with this year’s tournament ?
1. Turn the International Polo Tournament into a Pony Summit
During the 22–29 November event, reserve one full day as a Manipuri Pony Conclave: Invite conservation scientists, policymakers, club owners, pony owners and international polo bodies. Present updated census data, health reports and habitat maps. Announce measurable targets - say, raising the population from ~1,000 to 1,500 in ten years backed by budget lines, not just speeches.
This is the ideal platform : The world already comes to Imphal to play. Let them help save the pony too.
2. Create a Manipuri Pony Authority with real teeth
Instead of scattering responsibility across departments, form a dedicated authority to:
a) Maintain a digital pony registry
b) Oversee microchipping and vaccination
c) Manage grazing reserves like Lamphelpat
d) Coordinate rescues and road safety
e) Work with villages, clubs and NGOs
Such an authority could be anchored under Animal Husbandry but given cross-departmental powers, drawing directly from the MPCDP provisions.
3. Expand and truly develop grazing reserves
The 30 acres at Lamphelpat must be more than a line in a Cabinet decision. It should be:
a) Fully fenced and protected from encroachment
b) Restored as a wetland-grassland habitat
c) Equipped with water points, shelters and vet posts
d) Managed jointly by local communities, pony owners and the State
Over time, additional satellite grazing pockets around Imphal valley can create a network of safe habitats.
4. Build a pony-centred tourism circuit
Imagine a visitor itinerary that includes:
a) A guided tour of Mapal Kangjeibung, explai-ning polo’s Manipuri roots
b) Valiant demonstration of Arambai Dart throwing by Manipuri horsemen in Meitei warrior costume
c) A visit to Marjing Hill and a living pony reserve
d) A short, carefully supervised pony ride or demonstration
e) A multi-media story session on Sagol Kangjei and Meitei mythology
f) Homestays in pony-owning families
This combines pride, livelihood and education. The same infrastructure can host riding camps for Manipuri children, strengthening local emotional bonds with the animal.
5. Support owners directly: feed, health, and incentives
Without pony owners, no policy can succeed. The State can:
a) Subsidize fodder during lean seasons
b) Provide free vaccinations and deworming camps
c) Offer cash incentives or tax rebates to registered pony keepers
d) Introduce a “Adopt a Pony” scheme where individuals and companies sponsor the care of specific ponies through a transparent portal
Such measures convert moral responsibility into practical support.
6. Integrate ponies into urban planning and road safety
Municipal and PWD plans must recognize ponies as part of the city’s living fabric:
a) Install warning signs and speed restrictions in pony-crossing zones
b) Design “green corridors” that link grazing pockets
c) Enforce anti-cruelty laws and penalize reckless drivers who injure animals
The goal is not to push ponies out of sight, but to allow them to live safely within a shared landscape.
Guarding pride, not just memories
In a way, the Manipuri pony is running two races at once. On the polo ground, it still runs with astonishing grace, carrying local and foreign players under the roar of crowds, reminding everyone that this is where polo was born. Off the field, it is racing against vanishing wetlands, shrinking budgets and public indifference.
If Manipur succeeds in saving the pony, it will do more than preserve a breed. It will prove that a small State, battered by conflict and neglect, can still protect something precious and offer it proudly to the world - not as a relic, but as a living, breathing companion.
As the first whistle blows on 22 November, perhaps we should ask ourselves a simple question:
When future generations watch polo at Mapal Kangjeibung, will they see the Manipuri pony only in statues and photographs - or still feel its warm breath, hear its hooves, and know that we chose to stand by it when it needed us most?
(The author is a Manipuri expat settled in Canada. He can be reached at [email protected])