Few thigns are as majestic as a wild mustang galloping across the plains, but many people aren’t aware that you don’t have to go out west to experience the wonder of wild horses.
Congress has protected American wild horses since the mid-20th century after ranchers began killing them off, claiming they interfered with grazing cattle. Today, there are several places in the U.S. where you can spot free-roaming horses and ponies, but we think the most beautiful spot may be Assateague Island.
Assateague Island is home to extraordinary herds of wild horses and ponies.
This remote and windswept barrier island in Maryland and Virginia is beautiful in its own right, but the free-roaming ponies add another level of wonder.
Local folklore says that the horses are the survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast, but the more likely explanation is that they descended from 17th-century horses kept on the island to avoid livestock taxes.
Though visitors aren’t permitted to touch or feed the horses because it endangers both the human and the animal, admiring them from a comfortable distance is an equally incredible experience.
Kayak touring is a popular and fun way to check out the island, and you can also camp right on the beach. The most popular times to visit are the spring and summer.
Click here to learn more about Assateague Island and how to visit for yourself. For more amazing American beauty, check out these 21 U.S. landmarks that you absolutely must see before you die.
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