When tragedy strikes his family, young Mark Benton is thrown upon the mercy of his enigmatic, prickly Aunt Fiona, who shares her home on a magical island off the coast of Nova Scotia with a herd of enchanting, graceful wild ponies. Mark, approximately 10 years old, goes to live with his aunt Fiona, a crabby loner. Fiona, a naturalist, lives on an island and studies horses. Fiona takes over Mark's education. As their relationship matures, Mark and Fiona face a crisis: one of the island's wild horses has been orphaned. The foal will not survive without their help, yet they are forbidden from interfering in the horses' lives.