Have you ever seen a horse run free? It's a rare and powerful sight. Fortunately, there are a handful of places you can still witness the pure majesty of a wild horse—independent and glorious—thundering across the land. Though they are commonly referred to as "wild," free-roaming horses in the United States are technically feral because they come from once-domesticated livestock. Most are descendants of animals that escaped from Spanish explorers, the United States Calvary, Indigenous People, or ranchers and survived to breed. They populate plains, mountains, and beaches across our country, though in much more limited numbers than in the past. Powerful and strong, horses are awe-inspiring animals. While the places where they still roam wild and free are limited, there are several in the South that allow visitors to view them from a distance.
Cumberland Island National Seashore
One of the largest islands off of the coast of Georgia, Cumberland is home to a herd of around 150 - 200 feral horses. The animals descended from modern breeds like Tennessee Walkers, American Quarter Horses, Arabians, and Paso Fino. There’s no road to the island, but
visitors can take a ferry from St. Mary’s to experience its natural beauty. The Cumberland Island herd recently became the subject of a legal battle. The horses aren’t managed by any group or park service, making the availability of food, water, and veterinary care nonexistent. Advocacy groups are working to get more help for the feral herd, who’s lifespan is much less than a typical equine. They’re easily seen on Cumberland’s shore, grazing in the dunes to catch sea oats or scrubby vegetation on the island’s 18 miles of untouched beach. They regularly travel through tabby ruins with babies in tow. It’s recommended that travelers don’t get close. Even though horses may want to interact, they are often unpredictable and best viewed from a little farther away. The storied
Greyfield Inn is the only commercial business on the island, owned and operated by the Carnegie family. First built in 1900 as a retreat, the hotel was the site of
John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s wedding reception in 1996 . Guests can stay in their choice of 15 rooms while enjoying hikes down sandy roads under a canopy of ancient trees. There’s nature education teaching about the maritime forests and marshlands and farm to table dining from the hotel’s garden. You can also stay on nearby Amelia Island and take a boat across to Cumberland for an unforgettable day trip.
Corolla
The origin story of the wild horses that roam this portion of the
Outer Banks is quite amazing. Known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," the shoreline of Corolla is shallow, with unpredictable sandbars that move and change with the ocean currents. As its name indicates, it's known for many shipwrecks. Hundreds of years ago,
Spanish Mustangs escaped from these disastrous trips and swam to land, surviving to run in herds. These Banker Horses can still be seen there today. Visitors hoping to catch a view of the resident wild horses have a few options. You can rent a jeep and take a self-guided tour into the
Currituck National Wildlife Refuge or take a trip with a guide.
The Corolla Wild Horse Fund manages the health and wellbeing of the horses. With headquarters in the Historic Old Village of Corolla, visitors have the opportunity to donate to their efforts and learn about the Banker horse breed. There’s also a collection of wild horses on Shackleford Banks, the Southernmost island of the Outer Banks. This area is about three miles off the main beach, so a boat is the only way to get close enough to see them. A small herd can be found in Ocracoke Island in a contained 180 acre preserve.
Chinconteague and Assateague Wild Pony Swim
Do you remember the book
Misty of Chinconteague by Marguerite Henry? The story of a wild mare Phantom and her baby Misty won the Newberry Award in 1948 and was made into a movie in 1961. While the real Misty was actually born in captivity, the story of the annual wild horse roundup and Pony Swim from
Chinconteague to Assateague —two barrier islands on Virginia and Maryland’s shoreline that flank the state lines—is 100-percent real. There’s a fence running down the Virginia and Maryland state borders that separates the horses into two groups. The Southernmost animals are owned by the
Chinconteague Volunteer Fire Company who maintains the size of the herd by holding a yearly pony auction on the last Thursday in July. Saltwater Cowboys wrangle the horses from the Virginia side of Assateague through the waterway to
Chincoteage , where the foals are sold at auction. This year marks the 99th anniversary of the swim. Horses on the Maryland side of Assateague are cared for by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are about 150 or so animals in that herd and around 50 are held closer to the road for visitors to see. The swim is a popular event for tourists and locals. There are a whole host of events, including a parade after the ponies have rested and a carnival. It’s an amazing site to see accomplished horse riders bring in the herd across the channel. The first pony to reach the sand is given the honor of King or Queen Neptune and marked to be raffled during the celebration. The proceeds from the sale and the auction go to provide veterinary care for the horses, as well as supporting the volunteer firefighters. There’s also a chance to buy naming rights for ponies that stay with the herd. Funds for at least one horse are donated to chosen local charities. The day is full of goodwill, including support for
The Feather Fund , a charity established to help deserving children buy their dream horse at the auction.
The Carolina Marsh Tacky
South Carolina’s heritage state horse, the Marsh Tacky, is a sturdy, sure-footed animal that descended from the horses of 16th century Spanish explorers. They’ve been celebrated as calm, athletic mounts, and even played a role in America's victory in the Revolutionary War. The soldiers under
Brigadier General Francis Marion rode this unflappable horse through swampland to defeat the British army, marking a turn in the war effort. These horses ran wild on the barrier islands of
the Lowcountry , frequently rounded up and used for dependable mounts and agricultural needs by local farmers. They were finally evacuated from the islands totally in the 1980’s due to their dwindling numbers and shrinking habitat from development. Despite their sturdiness, the breed had shrunk to around 100 just a few years ago when conservationists stepped in. While the horses no longer run wild on
Daufuskie Island’s shoreline , visitors to the island can see the efforts to restore the herd in their native habitat at the site of the
Daufuskie Island Marsh Tacky Association . The first
Marsh Tacky born on the remote island in 40 years, Estelita, was born in 2018 as result of the horses being held together in a safer pasture during Hurricane Matthew. That foal was the first of many to be born on the island, including a brother named Mateo, that was also a result of the time during the hurricane.
