Wild Horses: Where to see these beautiful animals in the U.S.

There are only a few places in the United States where you can still view and photograph wild horses. Fortunately, out of the half dozen or so places where there are still wild horses in the U.S., I live within a day's driving distance of two of these locations. I was also fortunate enough to see the horses when visiting.

A beautiful black stallion on the beach in Corolla, North Carolina

North Carolina Wild Horses

There was a time when the wild horses of North Carolina's Outer Banks numbered in the thousands, but the recent increase in popularity of this beach resort region has made a dramatic impact. Today, some fear that these horses (especially the Corolla herd, which has only 60 animals left) may not be around much longer.

The horses are believed to be descendants of those that accompanied Spanish explorers in the 16th and 17th centuries. Unable or unwilling to bring the horses back with them to Spain, the explorers left them behind on the beaches of North Carolina. The horse population initially exploded, but in the late 20th century numbers dwindled after roads and vacation rentals were built in earnest. Human intervention, destruction of habitat and car traffic all contribution to the declining populations.

More beautiful horses on beach in the Outer Banks, North Carolina

Maryland / Virginia Wild Horses

Assateague Island National Seashore is located close to Chincoteague Island, Virginia and Ocean City, Maryland. Assateague contains over 37 miles of pristine beach. More than 300 wild ponies wander the beaches, inland pine forest, and salt marshes.

Assateague's wild horses are well known, even to many people who have never been to the island. The "wild" horses on Assateague are actually feral animals, meaning that they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state. Horses tough enough to survive the scorching heat, abundant mosquitoes, stormy weather and poor quality food found on this remote, windswept barrier island have formed a unique wild horse society.

Local folklore describes the Assateague horses as survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast. While this dramatic tale of struggle and survival is popular, there are no records yet that confirm it. The most plausible explanation is that they are the descendants of horses that were brought to barrier islands like Assateague in the late 17th century by mainland owners to avoid fencing laws and taxation of livestock.

Wild horses grazing in the salt marshes on Assateague Island, Maryland

A lone mare grazing on Assateague Island

Here is a list of a few other locations where wild horses can still be seen in the United States and Canada:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/best-places-see-wild-horses-north-america-180956363/

Hope everyone has a day full of wonder of the natural beauty around us.