Ancestry Tested Pony: Twix or Treat

A different type of tested pony this week! One of the most challenging things about trying to identify a Chincoteague Pony or connect a Chincoteague to its heritage are the solid colored ponies. If there isn't documentation on the pony it's nearly impossible to identify them if they don't have any identifying markings.

Twix or Treat is a solid bay gelding born in 2011. Family DNA testing with Etalon Equine Genetics was able to verify he is a Chincoteague Pony and who his likely sire is. The family testing has been used in other ways in Chincoteagues but this is the first time it's verified a Chincoteague Pony!

Looking at "Horses Like Me" in the first photo you can see that all of them are Chincoteagues. This shows ponies that have a similar breeding or a similar genetic composition to him, not necessarily related.

The second photo shows his relatives. 1st degree relatives are parents or offspring so he has none. 2nd degree are siblings and the two Tornado's Legacy offspring in Etalon's database are listed. That strongly indicates that Twix is by Tornado's Legacy. It seems that Twix is Legacy's first foal as he was a bachelor in 2010. Three more Tornado relatives appear in the 3rd degree relatives. He's definitely a Tornado descendant! The testing didn't indicate Twix's dam, however foal records show that he may be out of Galadriel.

Hopefully with more tested ponies providing genetic data more ponies like Twix can be connected to their ancestry! Twix is now a registered Chincoteague Pony with the International Chincoteague Pony Association & Registry.