It is a simple image, yet one that tells a story that resonates with history. We encountered a group of ponies grazing at the base of one of Monument Valley’s famous buttes. Our presence obviously spooked them, because as soon as we arrived, they scattered. Two of them plodded past me, heading towards the prospect of food. I filled the foreground with grasses, representing such sustenance. A huge bush dominates the image, making the ponies seem small in comparison. A berm of compacted red sand fills the space behind them, removing all traces of sky and plain. The small horses belong to Navajos, possibly descended from horses originally brought to this place by Spanish conquistadors 400 years ago. The horse became a critical component of Navajo culture, originally providing transport for their nomadic lifestyle as well as giving the means to fight the Spanish and predatory Indian tribes. Today the Monument Valley Navajo use the ponies to offer tours and trail rides to tourists.