Apple on Wednesday said it was delaying delivery of the iPad to markets outside the U.S. The company cited “surprisingly strong US demand” as the reason for the decision and said shipments would start to international markets at the end of May. Apple said it would begin taking online pre-orders and give international pricing on Monday, May 10.

“We know that many international customers waiting to buy an iPad will be disappointed by this news, but we hope they will be pleased to learn the reason—the iPad is a runaway success in the US thus far,” Apple said in a statement.

At its iPhone OS 4 event last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the company had sold 450,000 iPads since it was launched on April 3.