A small band of wild ponies lives on Mount Rogers, highest peak in Virginia. For years the area was logged and grazed by cattle which reduced the trees and bushes to create open meadows called balds. When The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Grayson Highlands State Park were created the cattle were removed. So a herd of wild ponies was maintained to keep trees and bushes from taking over the balds. The herd thrived in the scrubby mountainous terrain and now stands at about 150. To limit the herd's size and keep it from damaging the environment The Wilburn Ridge Pony Association holds an annual roundup to auction off excess colts.