Ocracoke Horses

Banker ponies in their pasture on Ocracoke Island.

Legend has it that the “Banker” horses of Ocracoke were left here by shipwrecked explorers in the 16th or 17th century. European ships commonly carried livestock to the New World, and if a ship ran aground near the coast, animals were thrown overboard to lighten the load, so the ship could be re-floated. The livestock were often left behind when the ship again set sail.

Horses, often referred to as Ocracoke ponies, have been documented on Ocracoke Island since the first European settlers came to stay in the 1730s. They've played a major role in the island’s history, serving residents as beasts of burden at work and play, in beach rides and races.

In the late 1950s, Ocracoke Boy Scouts cared for the horses and had the only mounted troop in the nation. By law, the free-roaming animals were penned in 1959 to prevent over-grazing and to safeguard them from traffic after the highway was built in 1957. The remaining herd has been cared for by the National Park Service since the early 1960s.

 

NPS

Information Review

Under contract with Outer Banks Forever, Researchers Kent Redford, a conservation practitioner and scientist with Archipelago Consulting, and Elaine Leslie, retired chief of biological resources for the National Park Service, published an information review of the Ocracoke horse herd that provides a brief history and analysis of horses in North America, on the east coast, and in the park, along with a summary of National Park Service laws, regulations, and policies relevant to horses at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Results of the information review, along with all other information and input, may be used to help inform future management of the Ocracoke horse herd. The report does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Park Service.

To request the information review report of the Ocracoke horse herd, published March 2024, email [e-mail].

Horse Management Plan

In light of sea level rise effects and in consideration of National Park Service management policies, Cape Hatteras National Seashore began preparations to develop a management plan for the Ocracoke horses.

Public Meeting Notice: On May 21, 2024, Cape Hatteras National Seashore sought input on the development of the horse management plan at a public meeting on Ocracoke Island. The purpose of the meeeting was to receive preliminary input in advance of the plan's development.

 

Frequently Asked Questions - Information Review & Horse Management Plan

What is the information review and what will it be used for?
The information review seeks to provide park managers with a brief history and analysis of horses in North America, on the east coast, and in the park, and provides a summary of National Park Service laws, regulations, and policies relevant to horses in the park.

Why is the National Park Service not breeding the Ocracoke ponies and when will there be a new foal?
The last foal was born in 2018. There are currently no plans to expand the herd, which is within the range of its historical size (9 to 20 horses). In 2024, the Seashore began preparation of a horse management plan. The primary purpose of the plan is to ensure the short- and long-term welfare of the existing herd. The plan will include goals for the size of the herd given current and future management challenges and opportunities within the Seashore on Ocracoke Island.

Do the Ocracoke ponies represent a unique genetic line?
No. The Ocracoke horse herd is not genetically distinct from the Corolla and Shackleford Banks wild horse herds.

It is well documented that wild horses from Corolla and Shackleford Banks have been brought to Ocracoke Island for breeding purposes. For example, in 2009, a Shackleford Banks wild horse was brought to the Ocracoke Pony Pasture to live and breed, leading to the 2010 birth of a foal, locally referred to as Paloma. In 2012, the same Shackleford Banks horse produced an offspring, locally referred to as Rayo, who grew up and mated with two different mares from Shackleford Banks several years ago.It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to determine how many decades it has been since a horse on Ocracoke Island did not have a mix of parents from Corolla, Shackleford Banks, or Andalusian horses..

Is climate change and sea level rise a factor when considering future management of the Ocracoke horses?
Yes, climate change and sea level rise are factors that will be considered to ensure the long-term welfare of the horses. Given the low elevation of many areas on Ocracoke Island and projections for 10-14” of sea level rise by 2050 (Sweet et al.2022), the Seashore must evaluate these impacts as they pertain to the Ocracoke herd, its habitats, and the ability to properly manage and care for the horses.

Are horses native to North America?
No. Though equids evolved in North America, they dispersed to the Eastern Hemisphere and later became extinct in the North America (Western Hemisphere) about 5,000 years ago. When horses were later reintroduced from Europe and Asia to North America, the genetic makeup no longer represented the evolutionary linkage to those of original North America equids, as adaptation and human manipulation through selective breeding removed these linkages.

Why are National Park horses managed differently than horses managed by other agencies?
Livestock, including horses, are allowed on some National Park Service lands and are managed per NPS Management Policies 2006. In addition, the National Park Service administers permits through the Commercial Use Authorization process for tour companies to provide horseback riding services within the boundaries of the park. The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act only applies to animals on US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.

Why does terminology for animals differ between parks across the National Park Service?
Though park units may differ in their description of animals for public communications and interpretation purposes, all parks generally adhere to the same policies governing their management service-wide. Horses and cattle are understood to be domesticated animals consistent with NPS Management Policies 2006.

Why are horses managed differently between National Park Service units?
Each park has unique enabling legislation pertaining to creation of the unit and management of resources within its boundaries. In addition, some parks are subject to additional legislation passed after the establishment of the park, including management of nonnative animals. For example, Cape Lookout National Seashore manages their horse herd according to specific federal legislation passed in 1998 as 16 U.S.C. §459g-4 (https://www.gpo.gov) and the subsequent 2005 Amendment by Congress 109-117;119-§2526 (http://uscode.house.gov). Cape Lookout National Seashore currently manages over 100 wild horses on Shackleford Banks.