Pion-distribution amplitude within the instanton model

The leading-twist pion-distribution amplitude is obtained at a low normalization scale of order ρ _c (inverse average size of an instanton). Pion dynamics, consistent with gauge invariance and low-energy theorems, is considered within the instanton vacuum model. The results are QCD-evolved to higher momentum-transfer values and are in agreement with recent data from CLEO on the pion transition form factor. It is also shown that some previous calculations violate the axial Ward-Takahashi identity.