The home of the Connemara ponies is the barren, hilly landscape of Western Ireland. The home of the Connemara ponies is the barren, hilly landscape of Western Ireland. The stony terrain and harsh weather have made the ponies into particularly sure-footed, agile, and tough animals. They are big and strong, yet elegant, making them one of the few races of ponies able to perform dressage and show jumping alongside large horses.