Watercolor illustrations bringing to life the story of wild and domestic horses in the Pentro Valley of Italy — capturing the gentle spirit of the horses, the beauty of the Italian landscape, and the quiet magic of everyday moments in the valley.

A girl tenderly brushing through a horse's mane — a quiet, caring moment between a child and an animal.

The wonderful author Michael DeMarco has written a book about a unique breed of horses that live in Italy's Pentro Valley. These horses live outdoors year‑round in a high mountain valley. Over centuries, they have adapted to harsh weather conditions and a sparse diet. They are incredibly resilient, courageous, and at the same time have a calm, gentle temperament.

Children riding horses across a lush, flooded meadow — full of movement, joy, and the freedom of a sunny day.

Children running a race with a little foal — full of laughter, playful energy, and the joyful spirit of childhood.

A boy gently stroking a horse's neck.

Horses standing quietly in a meadow wrapped in morning mist — soft light, gentle silence, and the peaceful beauty of a new day beginning.

The breed is considered very rare and is endangered — its population numbers only about 250 individuals. In recent years, local authorities (the Molise region) and conservation organizations have been actively working to protect their habitat and preserve the breed's genetic purity.

A robin sitting on a horse, resting.

Horses grazing in a meadow among dandelions

A mother horse and her foal grazing quietly together in the meadow, side by side — a tender picture of family, safety, and the simple beauty of being close to one another

I love horses. I ride myself and have been involved in equestrian sports. So it was especially meaningful to me when DeMarco entrusted me with illustrating his book about Italian horses.

A bay horse lowering its head to drink from a clear mountain stream — the cool, fresh water flowing gently over stones, and a quiet moment of peace in the high valley

Gray horses standing quietly in a field nestled among rolling hills — still and gentle against the soft landscape, like part of the morning itself

A gentle Maremma sheepdog working alongside the horses in the Pentro Valley — guiding them with quiet patience and loyal care, a true guardian of the herd

Spending time with horses is wonderful for relieving stress, lifting your mood, and improving your physical well‑being. This book is about the connection between horses and people. It's also about ecology — caring for the environment, not littering, cleaning up after yourself, and teaching children to do the same from an early age.

Children working together to take care of nature, gathering plastic bottles and trash into bags — small hands making a big difference for a cleaner, happier world