North Carolina beaches are stunning, with their soft sand and sparkling water. It's hard to imagine anything enhancing their beauty. That is, until you consider wild horses. They're incredible animals with strength and resilience, shining coats, and serious eyes. I genuinely love almost all animals, and I especially enjoy animals that are free to roam and full of life. Wild horses have been part of the North Carolina beach landscape for about 500 years. Images of wild horses on North Carolina's Outer Banks are both iconic and inextricably linked to the state's history.

Herds of wild horses have lived in the Outer Banks longer than any people. They have survived harsh weather events for centuries. It isn't entirely clear how the horses came to the barrier islands, but experts think they descended from horses brought by Spanish colonizers. Many believe the horses swam to shore after Spanish ships wrecked near the Outer Banks.

No matter how they initially arrived in North Carolina, their survival over such a long period is incredible. They have characteristics unique from domestic horses, including a smaller number of ribs and bones in their spines. They also have a different posture. The wild horses have successfully adapted to their environments, eating native plants and grasses, like sea oats and acorns. When persimmons are ripe, they sometimes eat them right out of the trees. They also drink fresh water, which is under the surfaces of barrier islands. It is illegal for humans to feed or provide the horses with water.

Visitors to North Carolina can see wild horses in several places. About 100 horses live on Shackleford Banks, a barrier island near Beaufort. Boats and ferries take people to the island to observe the horses from a distance. It is very important that people do not approach wild horses, and laws require that they stay at least 50 feet away from them at all times.

About 100 Corolla wild horses live on Corolla and Carova beaches, and several companies offer guided tours to see the herd. Some highly rated tour companies include Wild Horse Adventure Tours and Corolla Wild Horse Tours. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund, a nonprofit that manages the Corolla herd, operates a museum where visitors can learn more information about the horses.

For more information, visit the National Park Service's site about North Carolina's horses of Shackleford Banks.

Have you seen the wild horses in North Carolina? Would you like to see them someday?

Outer Banks, North Carolina, is a beautiful place to visit. It's great for relaxing, fishing, hiking, birding, and much more. The Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden is a fantastic attraction with an enchanting butterfly garden. There are also great restaurants, like Sam and Omie's, a family-friendly restaurant in Nags Head.

If you'd like to vacation in the Outer Banks, consider staying in this three-bedroom Airbnb in Corolla. It sleeps up to ten people and has a private heated pool, a beautiful porch, and a hot tub.