What he had was the darkness, the knowledge of open-country travel, and the specific kind of determination that the previous four months had either built or broken — depending on the individual.

The Appaloosa horse is still bred by nimíipuu people today.

Horses remain central to nimíipuu cultural life and identity.

The Nez Perce Horse Registry maintains standards for the breed that connect contemporary nimíipuu horsemanship to the traditions that produced the horses of 1877.

When ceremonial riders travel portions of the 1877 trail, they do so on horses.

The connection between the riders of 2024 and the riders of 1877 is not merely metaphorical.

The Big Hole: What Made It Different