While the human explorers of Antarctica are honoured on the continent's maps, the dogs and ponies which made it all possible are mostly forgotten – until now.

An Amundsen-Scott Centennial Aeronautical Chart for the trip between Christchurch and McMurdo Sound, published by the Airways Corporation, will mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival at the South Pole of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on January 14, 1911.

Amundsen used dogs, while rival Englishman Robert F Scott, who arrived 33 days later, used ponies.

Pilots flying the 3800 kilometres on route A338 between Christchurch and McMurdo have to go through air waypoints and report their progress.

Thanks to US Air Force Colonel Robert Smith, a former commander of Operation Deep Freeze, 11 of the 12 waypoints have all been renamed to honour the dogs and ponies.

Airways spokeswoman Nikki Hawkey said they had been approached by a group who wanted the animals honoured.

"It is a way of acknowledging this was a significant feat, it's acknowledging history and something we don't often get involved in."

As each waypoint can only have five letters, some of the animal names are a little cryptic. For the first southbound waypoint, Scott's pony Jimmy Pigg has become waypoint Jipig. Another waypoint is Pehrr, honouring one of Amundsen's dogs, Per, that was killed and eaten on the return trip from the South Pole.

Amundsen's dogs Helge, Mylius (which becomes Mylus as a waypoint) and Uroa (Urroa) are also honoured, along with ponies Bonnes (Boenz) and Nobby (Nobey).

The old waypoints were randomly generated five-letter terms. The one that meant anything, Byrrd, remains as it honours US explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd.

Dogs have been banned from Antarctica since 1993 for fear they were spreading distemper to seals.

- The Dominion Post