Dartmoor’s semi-wild ponies, which have roamed the moors in Devon for more than 3,500 years, face renewed concern amid changes to government environmental rules. Multiple reports note that the ponies’ population has dropped markedly over the past 70 years, despite their long-standing presence in the landscape. The new regulations are being discussed in terms of their potential impact on the ponies’ ability to continue grazing and sustaining viable numbers on the moor. The reporting highlights that the ponies are considered endangered, and that there is fear the rules could hasten decline or contribute to extinction if they restrict management practices used to support the herd. While the articles focus on the risk, they do not provide detailed figures, specific provisions of the eco-rules, or direct responses from government or pony conservation groups within the supplied text. The overall message is that observers are urging scrutiny of how the new framework will be applied in Dartmoor so that conservation objectives do not conflict with the long-term survival of the wild pony population.