There are about 60,000 free-roaming horses in North America, and while we call them “wild,” they more accurately fit the definition of feral, which means they are free-roaming descendants of domesticated horses. Regardless, their majesty is impressive to behold anywhere you find them. 

Domesticated horses were introduced into North America beginning with the Spanish conquest. Escaped horses then spread throughout the Great Plains. But it’s clear that centuries of domestication didn’t alter their instincts too much, as they quickly reverted to ancient behavioral patterns in the wild. On Assateague Island, horses have lived wild for over 300 years species, but managing the herd is critical to the continued protection of the seashore ecosystem.