Spirit is a young stallion who leadstheCimarron herd. He enjoys his freedom, as when this individualraceswith an novelty helmet, but he also recalls hisresponsibilities,as when he saves two foals from being attacked bya cougar. Oneevening he sees a campfire in the distance and goestowardinvestigate, despite his mother wanting him to stay. If hegrows tothe camp, horses linked local encourage him to leave, buthe wouldlike to know who's there. His nosing causes the boys towake up andchase him, eventually catching him as his mother andherd watchfrom a local cliff. His mother attempts to go to him, butthisindividual urges her and the herd to flee, which they do.Spirit is taken to an armed service fort, in which thisindividualdefies all their work to brand, shoe, and break him. Heand aColonel have used an instant dislike to each other, so theColonelorders Spirit to be associated with a post for three dayswith nofood or drinking water. While he is linked, a new Lakotabravecalled Little Creek is helped bring in and tied to anotherpost. Inthe evening, his friends put him a dagger, which heconceals fromthe soldiers as they document out at dawn on anotherday. TheColonel himself attempts to journey Spirit, who, despitehis bestefforts, cannot toss him and appears to give up, exhausted.TheColonel is happy with himself and rides Spirit around thecorral,bragging. But Spirit is basically regaining his strengthand, in afinal show of defiance, grabs the reins, breaks thesaddle, andtosses the Colonel off his back. The Colonel is furiousandattempts to shoot Spirit, but Little Creek slices himself freeandshoves the gun away. The two then escape, taking all theotherhorse with them in the process. Once free, Bit of Creek callshisown horse, a beautiful car paint mare named Rain, and jumpsontoher. Spirit is momentarily distracted and is caught again,thistime by the Lakota.In the Lakota's camp, Spirit is puzzled by Rain and LittleCreek'srelationship, are you wondering why a horse would ever agreeto ahuman. After a failed attempt to journey Spirit, LittleCreekscarves Spirit and Rain jointly and lets them loose. Spiritthinkshe's free and begins to run off but Rain sticks firm. Herelentsand lets her show him around her world, dropping for her intheprocess, but still yearning to be free. This individual startstorespect Bit of Creek too, although this individual still won'tlethim on his back. Small Creek finally realizes that no-oneshouldever trip Spirit and sets him free, knowing that the wild iswherethis individual belongs. Spirit is delighted and immediatelyfindsRainwater, wanting her to come with him. But even though sheloveshim, she feels a kinship with Little Creek and wants to staywithhim. While they are together, the Colonel and his men attacktheLakota camp and Rainfall leaves to help Small Creek, withSpirithot on her heels attempting to stop her. Following losingsight ofher for a moment this individual finally spots her, withLittleCreek on her back, running toward the Colonel, who levels agun atthem. Rainfall rears and is filmed, with both her and LittleCreekfalling into a raging river. Small Creek clings to a rock andisalmost shot as well, but Spirit rams the Colonel's horse,savinghim, and the two share a brief look before Spirit runs off tosaveRain, who has recently been swept away by the current. Althoughheextends to her, he cannot swimming against the rapids and thetwoare hidden more than a waterfall. Spirit survives and findsRainlying down on the bank, barely in. He stays with her and lastandlast and is captured by the army again in the morning. Theywillleave Rain, believing that she's not going to make it, and theladyis found by Minor Creek. Little Creek is amazed that Spiritkepthis life and look for the train he could be crammed on. Spiritisdespondant and on the brink of giving up when the swirlingsnowoutside