The Virginia Highlander breed of horse was developed over a thirty-year period by my late father, William M. Pugh, at his farm in Southwest Virginia.  The inspiration for the breed was a horse named Pogo, son of an Arabian/Tennessee Walker mare.  The mare was purchased in Kentucky and surprised my father with a small, gaited foal that appeared to have been sired by a Welsh pony.  Bill Pugh had a goal of developing a breed of gentle, small (13-14h), naturally gaited horses, using Pogo as the beginning stallion.  He used Arabian blood for "sparkle", Tennessee Walkers for gait, Morgan horses for size and gentle nature, as well as American Saddlebred, Hackney, and Welsh ponies.  As soon as he got a stallion that met his expectations, the previous stallion was sold.  The yearlings and mares that didn't fit into his plan were sold.  Thirty years later, in the early 1990's, the Virginia Highlander Horse Association was formed.  Twenty mares and two stallions made up the foundation stock of the Virginia Highlander breed.  One of the foundation stallions, Shadow of the Ridge, is still on the family farm.  Bill Pugh felt that "Shadow", his personal mount, was the best example of the breed.  As of May 2009, "Shadow" is twenty-four years of age and his descendants dot the fields all around his pasture.  The number of registered non-foundation stock Virginia Highlanders is approaching 200.  Bill Pugh's dream has come to fruition.  More importantly, many, many families have come to know and love this friendly type of horse.  Most, but not all, Virginia Highlanders are blessed with a natural single-foot gait that was Pugh's preference.