OBX

If you spend time in the northern stretches of the Outer Banks, particularly north of Corolla, you’ll probably catch a glimpse of a wild horse contentedly grazing among the tough scrub brush and the dunes.

You might not realize it, but you’re actually witnessing history. These gentle horses—known as Corolla ponies or Banker ponies—are descended from Spanish mustangs. The horses have roamed the island for more than 400 years, and according to romantic legend, their ancestors swam ashore from shipwrecked galleons. A herd of approximately 90 horses currently live on 12,000 acres of state, federal and privately owned land. Cared for in part by the non-profit Corolla Wild Horse Fund, these gentle ponies are now an enduring symbol of the Outer Banks.

While the Corolla Wild Horse Fund doesn’t actually lead tours, they can put you in touch with any number of knowledgeable guides and tour companies. By taking you off the beaten path, these guides give you a chance to see the horses in their own rugged and beautiful habitat.

Corolla Wild Horses Visitor Information:

The Wild Horse Museum and Mustang Store is located in the Schoolhouse in Old Corolla Village.

OBXtra #25—The Missing Link

The Corolla wild horses still carry one of the major distinguishing features of their ancestors, the Spanish mustangs. Both types of horses have one fewer vertebra than the vast majority of other breeds.