Richard Hayden farewelling his miniature pony, which died after being hit by a car.

A man is mourning the death of his one-eyed miniature pony after it was hit by a car in central Christchurch.

The pony – which was named Roadkill – belonged to Richard Hayden, a once-homeless man known for parading his horses around the city.

He had been keeping several horses, including two miniature ponies, on red-zoned land in the central city.

JOELLE DALLY/FAIRFAX NZ Richard Hayden with his ponies in the Avon River.

Roadkill was hit by a car on November 15, on quake-damaged Oxford Tce.

It was mortally wounded and had to be euthanised. The driver of the car was not injured.

It is the second time one of Hayden's horses has been killed in a traffic crash.

RICHARD HAYDEN/FACEBOOK Hayden's pet calf, Russell, was detained by police in September.

Two years ago his horse, Archiboy, bolted onto the Southern Motorway, where it was hit by a car and died.

Hayden was charged with letting his horse roam but successfully defended himself in court.

His other horse, Beautifoal, was impounded by authorities and auctioned off. It was bought for $1100 by animal welfare activist Nikki Subritzky.

RICHARD HAYDEN/FACEBOOK Roadkill and Russell at the pound.

Police responded to the recent crash and reported it to the SPCA, which was unable to save Roadkill.

"After being transported back to our animal centre for assessment the horse unfortunately had to be put down by a veterinarian due to the severity of its injuries," Canterbury SPCA chief executive Barry Helem said.

It was not yet clear whether Hayden would face charges.

Roadkill's body was returned to Hayden last week. He farewelled the horse on Sunday, placing a blanket over its body while its paddock-mates looked on.

He did not have permission from Land Information New Zealand to keep his horses in the red-zone and had been asked to move them.

Hayden bought Roadkill – who was missing an eye after being kicked by another horse as a foal – and another miniature pony on Trade Me.

FAIRFAX NZ Richard Hayden being arrested in Blenheim in 2012. His horse had run onto a field.

They were often seen around C1 Espresso and the bus interchange, where Hayden would allow children to ride the ponies.

It has been a bad run for Hayden and his menagerie, which often put him at odds with the law.

In September, his pet calf, Russell, was found by police wandering through the city at 3am.

A photo of Russell in the police car was widely shared online.

The calf was taken to the pound in Bromley. A photo Hayden posted online shows Russell and the ponies together at the pound.

Hayden kept a low profile after his 2014 court appearance, but is still seen around the city with his ponies.

He is no longer homeless and lives on a property in Marshland.

Hayden moved to Christchurch after he was exiled from Blenheim. He had been found guilty of assaulting a police officer.

A judge ordered him to stay out of Blenheim, where he had been similarly infamous.

One of his horses had interrupted a T20 cricket game. It later vanished after Hayden was arrested.