Northern Outer Banks
Carova NC
2022

The name Mustang comes from the Spanish word mesteño or monstenco which means wild or stray.

DNA testing was conducted in 1992 and 2007 and analyzed by renowned equine geneticist, Dr. E. Gus Cothran of Texas A&M University. A physical inspection was also conducted by the Horse of the Americas Registry and the American Livestock Conservancy. The results of both tests determined that the Corolla wild horses are of Spanish origin and are eligible for registration as Colonial Spanish Mustangs. They are one of the oldest and rarest strains left in the world and are listed as a critically endangered/nearly extinct breed.

On The Northern Outer Banks, legends abound—and some living
legends still roam these remote beaches. The official state horse of North Carolina, the Corolla Wild Horses are descendants of colonial Spanish Mustangs brought by explorers over 400 years ago. Here, these wild horses roam freely and are most commonly found in the four-wheel-drive areas of Corolla and Carova. It is illegal to intentionally come within 50 feet of the horses, so that means no petting or feeding, but they can be appreciated from a distance on one of our wild horse tours. We have several tour companies that can get you within picture-taking distance while also giving you a great history lesson about the horses and the area itself.

The Wild Spanish Mustangs are unique to Corolla and Currituck counties, and you won’t find them in any other part of the world.

https://visitcurrituck.com/places/corolla-wild-horses/

The only remaining wild herd left in the world, these horses are a must-see when visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The wild horses were originally brought here in the 1500s on Spanish ships. The shallow nature of the coast off of Corolla and the unpredictable sandbars have caused the area to be known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, and caused many a shipwreck. It is believed that the horses survived such occasions to swim to shore, making a new home for themselves, and they’ve been here ever since.

Whether roaming the sand-streets or enjoying the fine sea mist on the shores of Corolla, these horses are free to wander as they please. They stroll through neighborhoods and yards, pausing to nibble a bite of grass, sea oats, live oak tree leaves or persimmons.

Their legs are short, their bodies stocky and their fur fluffier than domesticated horses. Locals and visitors alike steer clear, out of respect and concern for their protection. Their diets are narrow and their health precarious; the slightest contact with humans can be lethal for the horses. This is why it is so important to never get closer than 50 feet from one of these beautiful creatures.

Although mild in personality, these horses are entirely untamed, and can be quite territorial. Stallions regularly break into battle over mares, food and resources, and visitors are well-advised to keep a healthy distance for fear of spooking one. Although smaller than most horses, they are still extremely strong, and protective of their fellows.

The best time to view these living artifacts is spring, from mid April to the end of May. This is the off-season, meaning that the beaches are less crowded, and it’s also the mating season of the horses.

Whether your stay is a day, a weekend or a month, make time to visit the 4×4 beaches and see if you can spot some wild horses. Better yet, take a wild horse tour or visit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, whose mission is to protect and preserve the herd, and also educate visitors and residents on their history.


https://www.ourstate.com/a-herd-of-survivors-on-the-outer-banks/

A Herd of Survivors on the Outer Banks

For five centuries, the famed wild horses of Corolla have thrived in the dunes and waves. Today, the herd’s (human) protectors ensure their resiliency for generations to come.

Some call them cultural treasures. Others call them survivors. Meg Puckett calls Corolla’s wild Colonial Spanish mustangs miracles: “The Outer Banks are barrier islands, and they are not an easy place to live — for anyone — but these horses have thrived for 500 to 600 years.”

Just north of town, paved road peters into a sandy path. Here, wild Colonial Spanish mustangs in shades of sorrel, chestnut, black, and bay trot freely around. They roam the more than 7,000 acres that are protected for them. These Banker ponies, originally shipped across the Atlantic by Spanish and English explorers, wander the dunes and marshes, munching on sea oats and wading into shallow waves.

“No one knows how they have managed to adapt so beautifully to their island home,” Puckett says. “We do know, however, that these living treasures need the protection and support of the whole community, and all of its visitors, to continue to flourish.”

As herd manager for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF), Puckett leads the charge for a group of locals who are doing just that.

On the 31-acre rehabilitation farm, about 10 miles southwest of Corolla in Grandy (on the Currituck County mainland), CWHF hosts Mustang Mornings every Wednesday in the summer. Today, a group of visitors gathers to learn more about CWHF’s mission to protect, conserve, and manage the herd of wild horses.

Rapid development of the Outer Banks and northward expansion of roads threatens the wild horses’ natural habitat. People have been developing the wild land for decades — one of the main reasons a group of locals banded together more than 30 years ago to create CWHF.

Not only does the dedicated staff and volunteers closely observe the herd, but they also intervene in emergency situations and maintain the rehabilitation farm for horses that must be removed from the beach.

Rescued horses cannot return to the wild, which makes the decision to remove them agonizing. Puckett describes the stressful removal of Riptide, a young chestnut colt with a serious infection in his leg. “Removing Riptide and taking him to the NCSU veterinary hospital was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she remembers.

Puckett’s role as herd manager is as gratifying as it is unpredictable. “Horses don’t care about best-laid plans,” she says, laughing. This morning, she repaired a fence. Yesterday, she ran a successful fundraiser, pulled two endangered horses off the beach, and gave an outreach presentation to 150 kids at a history museum in Elizabeth City. Outreach is important: “We have these incredible resources right here on our island,” Puckett says.

Looking to the future, Cole is cautiously optimistic about the horses’ long-term sustainability. “I hope they can be there as long as possible,” he says. The herd has been squeezed up to the last 7 miles of Outer Banks, “and that’s plenty, but we need to be mindful of their presence. The horses are gentle and sweet and soft-mannered, but they need to stay wild to stay safe.”

According to Cole, the health of the herd can be safeguarded through public education and by maintaining extensive training for touring companies. His hope is that all of Corolla’s guests can be informed about the history, the terrain, and the appropriate way to view and support the wild horses.

“Because an astonishing 50,000 people per week visit Currituck in the summer, every guest must do their part to preserve and protect the horses,” he says. “This means staying at least 50 feet away from them at all times, never offering food to them, and remembering that distance from humans is ultimately what will keep them safe.”

If Puckett could make a final plea to visitors, it’s this: “Please don’t take the horses’ existence in Corolla for granted. Follow the rules so they will continue to thrive on the northern beaches for many more generations.”

She adds that it’s “absolutely possible to live in harmony with them; to watch them and love them and appreciate everything about them without getting close, and certainly without feeding them.” Just like every individual horse is critically important to the genetic health of the herd, every single person who sets foot on the beach is critically important to their survival.

The wild horses of Corolla are survivors, living remnants of history, legend, and war; they are resilient treasures from another age and a distant shore. They have adapted beautifully to their island home, but they require the delicate care and dedication of their protectors, along with the respect of every visitor they receive. You can see them for yourself if you head to the northern tip of the Outer Banks and leave the paved roads behind. If you’re lucky, you might just glimpse a sorrel mare streaking through the surf before she disappears between the dunes.