Pennig [Halfling Pony]

The halfling name for the breed, pennig, just means pony in their tongue. The breed descends from hardy wild mountain stock, which explains its stamina and sure feet, but it is far friendlier than its ancestors. Most are warm chestnut brown, though other colors occur. Their thick coats protect them from harsh weather but need regular brushing to look tidy. Halflings never trim them, so manes and tails grow to the ground and are often braided, while the forelock spreads across the brow and hides the eyes.

A riding pony bites or strikes with its hooves for 1d2, but is not trained to fight while loaded. The war pony is a different matter. It strikes at foes ahead with two front hooves for 1d4 each, or lashes out behind with both hind legs at +2 to hit for 2d4. It may use front or rear hooves in a round, never both.

These ponies are steady and rarely bolt, which sometimes gets them hurt. Detractors claim they are too dim to be scared; halflings credit loyalty and courage.

Though bred from mountain stock, pennigs prefer rolling hills and grasslands. A few feral herds roam free and can be caught and broken, yet the majority live among townsfolk and city dwellers. War ponies are scarce, since their good nature makes combat training hard. Halfling breeders train them on special order, starting with foals and taking at least 2 years, and almost never for open sale. Owners rarely part with one, and when a war pony appears in a large city's stables it usually means its rider has died, though few outlive their owners. Such a pony costs about twice as much as an ordinary war pony.

Halfling ponies live, breed and gestate like other ponies, but hard work hardly tires them or shortens their lives. They carry more than ordinary ponies: a load of 180 lbs. still allows full speed, 265 lbs. halves it, and 350 lbs. cuts it to a third. Their sure-footed heritage lets them handle mountain trails and narrow bridges that would stop other horses, and since their breeders live underground, they happily follow owners into caverns and dungeons.