Set in the 1900s in the coal-mining town of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Pit Pony follows the life of Willie MacLean, a young boy forced to leave school to work in the local coal mines to support his family after his father is injured. The series captures the harsh realities of industrial life, the dangers of the mines, and the resilience of a tight-knit community struggling against poverty and exploitation. As Willie navigates the grueling physical labor and the dark, claustrophobic environment of the pits, he forms a deep bond with a pit pony named Gem. The show explores themes of coming-of-age, social injustice, and the importance of family loyalty, highlighting the transition from childhood innocence to the heavy responsibilities of adulthood in a rugged, unforgiving landscape.