Wild Horses of the Outer Banks

During your next vacation to the Outer Banks, one adventure that you should definitely not pass up is seeing the wild horses. As you may know, North Carolina's Outer Banks is home to hundreds of horses. These horses, also known as Banker horses, Shackleford ponies, and Ocracoke ponies, are said to have descended from a breed of Spanish horses and arrived to the barrier islands during the 16th century.

The Banker horse, although somewhat small, weighing approximately 800 to 1,000 pounds, is a tough breed. They have endured hurricanes, hot and humid summers, and winter storms. They live on the tough sea grasses and at times, limited access to fresh drinking water. The horses are docile and quite friendly, although it’s not encouraged to try and approach them.

Overpopulation, inbreeding, and protection of their habitat from being overgrazed, are managed by the National Park Service, the State of North Carolina, and several private organizations.

To see the horses, you can often drive along the beach and side roads if you have a 4WD vehicle. If you don’t, there are many guided tours to choose from. A few of these are below.

• Back Country Outfitters and Guides
• Beach Jeeps of Corolla
• Bob's Wild Horse Tours
• Corolla Outback Adventures
• Wild Horse Adventure Tours
  

At Élan Vacations, we hope you have an enjoyable vacation and take the time to share the beauty of these horses with the entire family.