The French cross-bred Pony Association was created on September 17, 1969, following the need to organise the breeding of such ponies.

Stallions books were then created, thus marking the first step of a Stud Book organisation.

In 1972 the cross-bred pony Stud Book was created by Jean LASSOUX, followed by the first pony stallions licensing gradings.
This Stud Book remained open to newly registered ponies until 1991.

The main objective was to create a sport pony through the selection of ponies and competition riding.

The pure Arab horse was highly appreciated due to his small size, his spirited looks, his stamina and his sport abilities. He was thus widely crossed with Connemara, New Forest and Welsh ponies, and to a lesser extent, with thoroughbreds, in order to produce the “French Riding Pony”.

In 1991, the cross- bred pony was named “French Riding Pony”, or “French Saddle Pony”.

The competition series dedicated to young ponies were subsequently organised in order to select and test the best sport ponies.
-These series include show-jumping for 4, 5 and 6 year old ponies who are registered in either one of the French Riding Pony, Connemara, New Forest, Welsh, or “Landais” Stud-Books.
-Thanks to these competition series for young ponies, it is easier to select stallions according to their performances.

As well as selecting stallions which meet the performance requirements in the “young ponies series”, the stallions licensing commission looks at the conformation and bloodlines of the stallions.

In the late 1960s, precise selection criteria were laid down for assessing ponies which were entering the stud book.