Meet Annandale Helios - known as Lio for short.
The 8-year-old black dun Connemara-cross gelding is the first bought by the Whangarei Riding for the Disabled group from the proceeds of a July fundraising event.
"We've got over $20,000 from the race day fundraiser at Ruakaka to spend on up to five horses," says Whangarei Riding for the Disabled (RDA) operations manager Sue Neilson.
Ms Neilson describes the 13'1 hands high pony as playful, intelligent and "currently under training".
"He's learnt quite fast what his job is in the arena - in the paddock he's still a young horse," she said.