Important Information regarding Horse Passports

HPA Passports. Over the past few seasons there have been significant changes to the horse passporting process. As of the 1st July 2009, under EU legislation all horses being issued with a passport for the first time now must be issued with a Microchip as a part of the identification and passport application process, this can only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. If your pony already holds a valid HPA passport or a valid passport that has been issued by another recognised Passport Issuing Organisation (full list of PIOs on DEFRA website www.direct.gov.uk/horsepassports then you will not need to apply for a new passport and do not need to get your pony microchiped.

Due to the new legislation it has been necessary to alter the format of the HPA passports, the new passport booklets have been available since 29th June 2009. Please note that we can no longer accept the old style passports for registration. If you have recently bred, purchased or imported a pony that requires identifying and registering for the first time please request for a passport application form and blank passport booklet from Amanda Eaton in the HPA office. amanda@hpa-polo.co.uk

Over-Stamping of non HPA Passports.  If a pony has been registered with a DEFRA approved PIO (Passport Issuing Organisation) within Europe, providing that the passport complies with the current regulations it will not require a new HPA passport. Ponies that hold passport’s issued by other DEFRA approved PIO’s can have their passports ‘over-stamped’ by the HPA so that owners that are members of the HPA are entitled to the HPA’s third party insurance cover. Please send these passports to the HPA along with a covering letter stating that you are the current owner and a cheque made out to the HPA for £4.17 + VAT per passport.

Weatherbys Passports. Those ponies that are registered with Weatherbys and have been trained and raced in the UK are elligible for ROR (Retraining of Raceshorses) prizes. Please see the ROR website www.ror.org.uk for details on how to register.

The charges for HPA passport endorsement are as follows:

Standard Charge (First Class Royal Mail)                              £15.00 (excluding VAT)

3 day turn around (Registered Delivery)                               £25.00 (excluding VAT)

Overstamp of passport issued by DEFRA approved PIO            £5.00 (including VAT)

Please note the new standard rate for is VAT is 20%

Please click here to read a Memo from DEFRA regarding the new equine passport legislation.

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