Equine passport & microchip fee

According to Irish law we need to chip and passport all horses we rescue (as most we encounter are not).  It is expensive but it ensures traceability and ownership records of horses we foster and adopt out.
"Regulation No 504/2008 requires that all equines born in, or, imported into the EU must, if they have not been identified prior to 1st July 2009, be identified by means of a passport and microchip. The Regulation came in to effect on 1st July 2009.  The Regulation covers horses, ponies, donkeys, and other equidae."
More information on the legal requirements to Chip and Passport horses can be found in this document from the Department of Agriculture.