THEY are incredibly rare and are bringing a smile to horse lovers around the country.

In a 1-in-10,000 chance two foals have been born to a 22-year-old mare in the New Forest in what experts say is an astonishingly rare' birth.

In nearly all cases one or both of the foals conceived in a twin pregnancy die before they are born with only a handful of successful twin births recorded around the UK.

But little filly, Bess, and colt, Royal, have defied the odds and at just a few weeks old the playful pair are lapping up all the attention they are attracting from onlookers.

Mum Royal Beatrice gave birth to the pair at St Leonard's Farm near Beaulieu after mating with a spotted Appaloosa Cockaroost Pazaz stallion.

Secretary of the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society, Jane Murray, said: "It is extremely unusual for horses to give birth to twins like this.

"To get both foals surviving to full pregnancy is an astonishingly very rare feet indeed and we only have a couple of examples in our stud book of it ever happening before."

Owner Stacey Gulliver, from Beaulieu, added: "Although my dad did mention she looked a bit fatter than is usual, it was a total surprise that it was twins."