The Isle of Wight is defined, more than anything else, by the ferry. Buying or keeping a pony here means factoring in crossing costs and timetables for transport, vet visits and shows on the mainland, and that shapes a genuinely self-contained island equestrian community — many families buy and sell locally rather than constantly crossing the Solent. Ponies here are a mix of native types and all-rounders rather than one dominant breed.
The upside of that self-containment is a tight-knit community where sellers are often known locally, and honesty tends to travel fast on a small island. The downside is choice: fewer ponies for sale at any one time than an equivalent mainland county, so patience matters, and it is worth deciding in advance whether you are willing to bring the ferry crossing into your own search if you live on the mainland.