I think they could handle pond life fairly well. My understanding is they can handle oxbows well which pretty much a pond.

Back home in Indiana (not intended to be a joke), my parents have a 1/2 acre pond in back yard that has had the same Spotted Gar in it since 1992. My nephew indicates is was still present this last July.
For four years prior to being placed in pond, I kept it in an aquarium feeding it mostly on pellets. Fish was 11" at time of capture from pretty deep water by hand.

Aquaculture
Cooperative Research / Extension
Lincoln University of Missouri