The San Joaquin Desert is among the most impacted ecosystems on earth. Thanks to a generation of conservation effort, endangered, endemic species such as the giant kangaroo rat and San Joaquin kit fox have secure populations, and a path toward down- or even de-listing is in sight. Unfortunately, one of the most astonishing processes has not returned: the enormous and widespread herds of migratory or nomadic pronghorn reported fewer than two centuries ago. Yet, given changes at the landscape level, it is not well understood if current conditions can support a productive and stable pronghorn population. Restoring pronghorn across the San Joaquin Desert will require landscape-scale planning, engaging with state, federal and international public agencies, as well as private landowners. Pronghorn need reliable access to freshwater, modified fences and roads, and rangelands dominated by a mix of forbs and shrubs rather than non-native annual grass. Success may require large corridors for migration. Pronghorn can serve as an indicator of ecosystem health, an umbrella for conservation, and a flagship for diverse stakeholder support. In this talk, we suggest that reestablishing a self-sustaining, stable pronghorn population to the region may move us closer to a more fully functioning and resilient San Joaquin Desert.