Good Samaritans rescued a pony or small horse that was loose on the 91 Freeway in Long Beach over the weekend, but not before an SUV ran into it, leaving the pony slightly injured.

Authorities are now looking for the SUV’s driver, who took off after running into the animal, according to the CHP.

“Technically it’s a hit-and-run because it’s somebody’s property,” said CHP Officer Marcos Iniguez.

Iniguez said the pony ran onto the freeway around 9:45 a.m. Sunday. A 10-year-old boy had been riding the pony at a home just north of the 91 Freeway when he fell off.

The pony ran and ended up getting onto the freeway at the Atlantic Avenue off-ramp.

“After reaching the main portion of the freeway, the pony was struck as it ran in the right two lanes of traffic by an unidentified sport utility vehicle,” the CHP said in a press release.

Good Samaritans were able to lead the pony to the right shoulder of the roadway where they took off its saddle and tried to calm it down, Iniguez said.

Animal control staff examined the pony to make sure it was OK. It was favoring one of its legs and appeared to have some bruising, but “otherwise appeared healthy,” the CHP said.

Officials gave the pony back to its owner and are still looking for the SUV’s driver.