the characteristics of the breed as known today are thought to have been established by the late 15th century, after the [[crusades|crusader]]s returned to england, with arab stallions from the [[middle east]]. in the 16th century, king [[henry viii of england|henry viii]], thinking to improve the breeds of horses, particularly [[horses in warfare|war horses]], ordered the destruction of all stallions under and all mares under in the [[breed of horses act 1535]]. the laws for swingeing culls of 'under-height' horses were partially repealed by a decree by [[elizabeth i of england|queen elizabeth i]] in 1566 on the basis that the poor lands could not support the weight of the horses desired by henry viii because of "their rottenness ... [they] are not able to breed beare and bring forth such great breeds of stoned horses as by the statute of 32 henry viii is expressed, without peril of miring and perishing of them", and (fortunately for the future of britain's [[mountain and moorland pony breeds]]) many ponies in their native environments, including the welsh breeds, therefore escaped the slaughter.