A　self-centering　isolated　pier　(SIP)　with　an　elliptical　rocking　interface　is　proposed　to　enhance　the　seismic　performance　of　bridge　piers.　Pseudostatic　tests　were　conducted　on　two　SIPs　(one　with　and　the　other　without　tie　bars)　to　study　their　damage　patterns　and　hysteretic　characteristics.　Additionally,　a　finite-element　model　of　a　SIP　was　constructed　to　study　the　effect　of　SIP　parameters　on　its　hysteretic　characteristics,　such　as　the　long　radius　of　the　ellipse,　the　ratio　of　the　long　to　the　short　radii　of　the　ellipse,　the　distance　from　the　tie　bar　to　the　centerline　of　the　pier,　and　the　axial　compression　ratio.　The　results　indicated　that　the　pier　bodies　of　the　two　SIPs　are　in　the　elastic　stage.　Increasing　the　long　radius　of　the　ellipse　and　axial　compression　ratio　can　enhance　the　hysteretic　characteristics　of　the　SIP.　However,　these　larger　values　could　lead　to　yield　failure　of　the　pier　bottom.　Furthermore,　an　increase　in　the　ratio　of　the　long　to　the　short　radii　of　the　ellipse　results　in　a　progressively　less　plump　hysteretic　curve　for　the　SIP,　leading　to　a　reduction　in　energy　dissipation　capacity.　Nevertheless,　an　increase　in　this　ratio　can　improve　the　self-centering　ability　of　SIPs.　The　distance　from　the　tie　bar　to　the　centerline　of　the　pier　has　little　effect　on　hysteretic　characteristics　of　the　SIP.