HORSE breeders on the Isle of Wight are celebrating after the birth of one of the world's rarest ponies.

Numbers of the striking chestnut Caspian Pony, once exclusive to the Royal Stud of the Shah of Iran, were decimated during the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Now, thanks to a dozen British breeders, numbers are grow-ing again and the latest addition to the group is a filly called Soraya, named after the late Shah's wife.

There are now more than 500 of the breed worldwide with UK-bred Caspians exported to Australia and the USA.

The latest arrival is now taking his first tentative trots at the Isle of Wight Rare Breeds Park at St Lawrence.

She is the offspring of ponies on loan from a Surrey-based breeder, Muriel Harris. "Their recovery is a real success story," she said. "Because of the connection with the Shah, who had used to breed them at his stud in Tehran, they were almost wiped out during the revolution,'' said Miss Harris.

"Fortunately the breeding programme has gone well and we are getting about 20 new foals a year in this country.''

Rare breeds farm owner Hugh Noyes says he is delighted to be part of the recovery programme for the Caspian Pony.

"Soraya is our first Caspian foal and we hope to have many more with her mother Farouna and our other Caspian mare Iris.

"This is an extremely rare animal and we are pleased to be taking part in the efforts to revive its numbers.''

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