A FEW THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE WILD HORSES OF THE OUTER BANKS:

DESCENDANTS OF SPANISH WAR HORSES Historians believe these horses were brought with the Spanish as they explored the New World around 1500. As horses bred for war, their ancestors were bred to be calm, and in fact, the horses today display a quiet demeanor when around cars and people. DNA testing was conducted in 1992 and 2007. The results of both tests determined that the Corolla wild horses are of Spanish origin. They are one of the oldest and rarest strains left in the world and are listed as a critically endangered/nearly extinct breed.

JOCKEY’S RIDGE GETS ITS NAME FROM THEM In the mid-1700s locals would catch a pony and race it around Jockey’s Ridge. From the top of the dune, everyone could cheer on their favorite.

IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THEY WERE CLASSIFIED AS ‘FREE ROAMING LIVESTOCK’ In Early in the 20th century, the National Park Service gave anyone the legal right to catch and keep the wild horses for their own, leading to the decimation of the herd. According to National Geographic Magazine, in 1926 there were between five and six thousand wild horses on the 175 mile stretch of the Outer Banks Since then, the horses have been reclassified and protected. It is now illegal to get within 50 feet of one.

YOU CAN ADOPT A HORSE When a horse has a medical problem or becomes too used to humans they must be removed from the herd. Babies born in a banner baby year also are removed. These horses are then trained, saddle broken and ready to be adopted by horse lovers. Being purebreds, they come with papers proving their Spanish Colonial Mustang heritage, enabling them to be entered in shows and making them suitable to breed. It costs surprisingly little to adopt a horse, under $700. However, the vetting process is rigid to make sure the horses are well taken care of.

THEY USED TO ROAM FROM OCRACOKE TO CAROVA Also known as ‘Banker Ponies’ herds of thousands roamed free on Ocracoke Island, Hatteras, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Duck. The herds dwindled as the human population grew and now the only wild horses remaining are the ones in the four wheel drive area in Carova. (Ocracoke has a pen of ponies who are also decendant from Spanish Mustangs, but they are no longer wild)

THEY WERE MOVED IN THE YEAR 1995 Due to the increased occurrence of vehicular deaths as the northern Outer Banks grew in popularity, the horses were moved off the paved roads to the relative safety of the 4-wheel drive area around Carova in 1995. They now have access to 7,544 acres (3,331, acres are public land and 4,213 are privately owned). They do not live in a wildlife refuge or sanctuary.

THERE ARE NO WHITE HORSES This blood line is only black and brown, though they may have white spots, marks or socks. This makes it impossible for any horse in the herd to give birth to a white horse (with the exception of a true albino, which has never happened here.)

THEY ARE MANAGED BY THE COROLLA WILD HORSE FUND In 1989, a group of volunteers got together and created what is now the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. This privately owned non-profit looks after the well being of the horses. Their duties include herd management, caring for the sick and lame, monitoring the overall health and safety of the herd, as well as advocating for the wild horses to ensure the horses have what they need to thrive.

THEY CAN BE HARD TO FIND! But our friends over at Bob’s Corolla Wild Horse Tours can take you and your group out in search of the herd and give you interesting background on the area and horses along the way. (252) 453-8602 https://corollawildhorsetours.com/