Thousands of people are descending upon Clifden in Co Galway for the annual Connemara Pony Show.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of this world-famous equestrian event.
From a small rural pony show to a centre of excellence on the international breeders' stage, the centenary of the Connemara Pony Show is rightfully a cause for celebration.
The atmosphere around the Clifden show grounds is tinged with nostalgia and reverential regard.
Chairperson of the Connemara Pony Show Mary Coyne said the pony was "still a hard working animal on farms when the show first began".
"Now the Connemara pony is an icon the world over and renowned for its athleticism and versatility. Most countries competing in the European championships have a Connemara pony as part of their team.
"They hold a very special place in my heart and that of my family. My father was a pony breeder and my great-uncle was one of the founders of the Connemara Pony Breeders' Society. The annual show in Clifden is our Olympics."
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Coyne said the ponies have attracted international attention form buyers.
She said that a trained Connemara pony can fetch up to €25,000, adding that prices have "come back very strongly" for ponies with potential in the performance area.
"It's a real celebration this year, we are a dedicated show-running organisation from the locality and we spread it out through the town, through the area.
"But also, within the showgrounds here. We had a lovely event last night, a reception in our marquee. It was full and very joyous," she said.
"People are genuinely celebrating what we have."
The Connemara pony is regarded in the equestrian world as truly being in a class of its own, admired the world over for agility, grace and natural jumping ability.
Enthusiasts and breeders come to Clifden from across Ireland and beyond to see some of the best performing ponies in the world.
There are some 700 ponies competing over the course of the week and today foals and stallions and broodmares will take to the rings to be judged throughout the course of the day.
These are the 'in-hand' showing classes, they allow breeders to present their Connemara ponies in-hand, highlighting their confirmation, movement, and overall presence.
Connemara ponies are an incredibly versatile breed, they can handle extremes of weather, they have easy temperaments and are very popular with children.
Tomorrow will feature both ridden and working hunter classes.
These competitions demonstrate the breed's capabilities under saddle, and capture the enthusiasm of children starting their equestrian journey.
The popularity of the ridden classes in Clifden continues to increase year after year highlighting the continued love and demand of this pony breed with riders of all ages.
While the competitive action is taking place in the rings, a dedicated 'Kids Corner’ will cater to the younger audience.
Children can engage in horse show painting, expressing their creativity and love for ponies through art.
On Friday, Connemara ponies will demonstrate courage and athleticism in the High Performance and Puissance classes.
These events are always highly anticipated, as riders and ponies tackle challenging courses and face increasing fence heights with each round.
The Connemara Pony Show concludes on Friday evening with the Parade of Champions.
All winning ponies, handlers and rider combinations are invited to partake in a victory lap leaving from the showgrounds to parade through the streets of Clifden.
