From the end of 2003, all horses and ponies (and other equine animals) in the UK will need to have a passport identifying the animal.

DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) consulted widely on the introduction of passports in 2000 and the proposal was supported by the equine industry. The industry believe that benefits will be realised if all horses have a passport, for example discouraging the indiscriminate breeding of horses and ponies and for disease control.

All owners or keepers of equines will need to obtain a horse passport for each horse they own or keep by the end of December 2003.

Passports will last for the life time of the animal and will include a Unique Equine Life Number.

A number of organisations and societies have been authorised by DEFRA to issue horse passports, including the British Driving Society.