Highland Ponies are rare and are on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust vulnerable watchlist. The double winter coat enables the ponies to live out in all weathers. The long tail, thick mane and forelock offer protection against the sun and biting insects in the summer months. The breed's ability to thrive in a hostile environment, combined with its strength and even temperament, suited it for many purposes. The Highland Pony evolved from the sixteenth century with some influence of other breeds - mainly Norfolk Roadster and Arab - and became adapted to the variable and often severe climatic conditions of Scotland. It has been used as a military pony, for general farm work, forestry, driving, riding, deer stalking and other sporting and showing activities. The strength and even temperament of Highland Ponies make them good work horses. Indeed they are still used in areas inaccessible to machines, such as in logging or to extract deer carcases from the hill. Colours vary from shades of dun and grey to brown, black and occasionally bay and liver chestnut with silver mane and tail. Many ponies have a dark coloured dorsal stripe and some show zebra markings on legs and shoulder.