WPBR Statement

The Society has received a number of enquiries following the recent updates issued by Passport Issuing Offices (PIO) based in England, that have announced their own specific Studbook structure regarding Part-Bred registrations. These differ from the WPCS by virtue of the default mixed breed PIO status that they were originally allocated; the WPCS PIO being based on pure bred. In light of this, the Society would like to provide our members and breeders with the following update.

As a breed society, it is vitally important to retain our ability to issue WPCS passports with all the correct Zootechnical papers and statutory pedigrees for the Welsh Part Bred equines, along with recognising these animals within a studbook. We are negotiating hard to try and ensure this will remain the same before a final resolution is reached. However, as the WPCS is a PIO located in Wales, we have the additional complexities of having to liaise with direct contacts in Welsh Government as well as DEFRA. Nonetheless, the Society has been involved in protracted dialogue with the Welsh Government and their counterparts in DEFRA to establish a way forward to keep WPBRs in some format integrated into our pure-bred studbook as our existing pure-bred PIO.

Following the discussions so far, it has become apparent that the only option available to the Society is to apply for recognition of a NEW Welsh Part-Bred Studbook in order to be able to continue to enter Welsh Part-Bred equines into our studbook and issue them with Zootechnical passports including statutory (verified) pedigrees. This application is currently ongoing and it could take some months before a decision is reached by Welsh Government/DEFRA, as there are a number of approval stages that must be satisfied before a final response is issued. The response has been positive, but the Society would ask those breeders and owners to please bear with us, as we navigate this lengthy and complex process. 

Following ongoing discussions with the Welsh Government, we are now pleased to confirm that the Society is eligible to overstamp WPBR equines for the sole purpose of participating in competitions and events, if they are already registered with a DEFRA approved studbook PIO.

We would like to reassure breeders of WPBR equines that the tiered pricing will not be applied this year for Welsh Part-Bred foals born in 2025 ONLY, and it will be a flat fee of £23.00 for a WPCS member per registration (or £68.00 for a non-member). Whilst the Society is awaiting a final decision and outcome to our negotiations, please contact the office to passport your part bred equines with our ID only passporting facility to ensure that they are compliant with government equine identity rulings. These passports will then be marked with a WPCS stamp and the ‘Welsh blood’ percentage to allow these animals to be exhibited in affiliated Welsh Part-Bred classes for the time being.

Your continued patience and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.