The New Forest Pony is one of the recognise nine Mountain and Moorland or Native pony breeds of the British Isles, valued for its hardiness, strength and sureness of foot. Many of them can be seen running loose on the New Forest in southern England; although the ponies may appear wild (which they are to some extent), they are privately owned by Commoners of the New Forest. The ponies are looked after by their owners and the Agisters (employees of the Verderers of the New Forest). The Verderers are a modern statutory body with ancient roots, that shares the management of the forest with the Forestry Commission.