When I show this picture to people, many get worried about the health/condition of the colt on the ground. No worries--I lingered and watched a while and the colt did get up and do coltish stuff...

One of the gems of the AT are the wild ponies of the Grayson Highlands in southern Virgina. They are not true natives of these highlands. They were released here in the early-to-mid 1970s to control vegetation on the mountain balds. It's a tricky thing introducing something new into an ecosystem. From blight carrying Asian Chestnut trees to cudzu, there have often been disasters. But the ponies are here now and are part of this ecosystem as it now exists. It's one of the highlights of any AT hike to spend a day with the wild ponies.

Ponies of the Grayson Highlands