 Grazing land is covered with snow which has then frozen solid |
Concerns have been raised that even hardy Dartmoor ponies are suffering during the severe wintry weather.
South West Equine Protection fears the prolonged cold is affecting the ponies, which are known for their resilience in bleak conditions.
With frozen snow covering the moor, some ponies have been seen pulling bark off trees for food.
The charity said, more importantly, water troughs were frozen too solidly for the animals' hooves to break.
There are currently more than 1,000 ponies on the moor, mostly owned by farmers who are battling with the snow and ice to look after their farms and livestock.
The National Farmers' Union said the Dartmoor pony was a tough breed which had survived severe winters in Devon for centuries.
But Louise Cummins from the equine charity said if the current conditions continued, some ponies would have no food or water.
 Walkers are being asked to break the ice on frozen water troughs |
"I understand the farmers are busy with cattle, sheep and other work on the farm, but all they need to do is pop out a little bit of hay just to keep the ponies going with a small amount of nutrition," she said.
"The ponies need water as a main lifeline - they can survive a couple of days without food, but not without water."
The charity has asked anyone out walking on Dartmoor, or common ground where there are ponies, to check water troughs and if possible break the ice.
