World's smallest pony kidnapped: Italian police suspect Mafia is behind disappearance of 63cm tall Charlie

Miniature pony 'believed to have been taken by Mafia'

Italian police fears little Charlie is being held for ransom



An animal act billed as the world’s smallest pony has been kidnapped from a horse fair in Italy.

Charlie, who is just 63cm tall, was snatched from his stall overnight in the Umbrian town of Città di Castello.

Police believe the mafia may be holding Charlie for ransom.

Pony-napped: Charlie, believed to be one of the world's smallest horses was stolen from his stable ahead of a horse fair in Italy (file photo)

He was due to perform at the show with his owner but ‘equestrian artist’ Bartolo Messina was forced to alert police when he found the pony’s stall empty.

Police are investigating the theory that the mafia may be involved and believe the thieves could be holding the pony for ransom.

The tiny show-pony was in the central Italian town for the 47th edition of the National Horse Fair.

Police said that the horse thieves snipped a wire fence surrounding the fairgrounds, grabbed the miniature pony and made off through a nearby tobacco field where a car was waiting to speed them away.

Investigation: Police in the Umbrian town of Città di Castello believe the local Mafia may be involved and that Charlie is being held for money

A spokesman for the Carabinieri in Citta di Castello said: ‘Investigations are continuing. We are not excluding any possibilities including that the perpetrators are part of a criminal organisation.’

The President of the National Horse Show Angelo Capecci called the theft ‘a shameful act’.

He said: ‘We were victims of a serious crime that offends and humiliates the equine world.’ ‘The security measures that for years have ensured the safety of the participants and that have always prevented the occurrence of similar incidents, were apparently undermined by a shameful act that does not reflect the horse world and its values. ‘