Cumberland Island National Seashore, the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia, is home to more than 200 wild, or feral, horses.Although some of their original roots may have similarities to those of the wild horses in North Carolina and Virginia, the Cumberland Island horses are larger because of mixed breeding. Assateague Island, Maryland - Wild horses have roamed Assateague Island for hundreds of years. Located in the Chesapeake Bay, the 37-mile-long barrier island is also home to numerous sandy beaches, hiking trails, and campsites, making it a popular getaway destination. Wild Horse is the largest island in Flathead Lake and is rich in history. Two herds of wild horses wander the shores of Assateague Island—the Maryland herd, which is managed by … Like much of Virginia, Chincoteague Island is a fantastic place for a vacation, no matter the time of year. On a small island everyone knows everyone – and their horse. Louise Heusinkveld / Getty Images. See also: Wild Horses | Bighorn Sheep To visit Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake you will need a boat to access this primitive 2,000-acre State Park. Reportedly, the Salish-Kootenai Indians used the island to pasture their horses and keep them from being stolen by other tribes. The island was once famous for its oysters but is now more known for the annual swim and auction of the wild horses of Assateague. The wild horses are free to roam through all of it. And most of the horses are branded. By the time the park was established in 1972, horses had become feral on the island. https://www.thestate.com/living/midlands/article54193525.html A wild horse at Shackleford Banks (photo: Foundation for Shackleford Horses) Today, you’ll find the largest herds of feral horses at the extreme ends of the Outer Banks. Several residents generously donated the use of their land as a wild horse … http://flatheadlake.us - Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake in NW Montana is the largest natural lake in the USA west of the Great Lakes. Island residents were determined to save the herd and introduced genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to replace those that had been euthanized. The wild horses of Cedar Island were a beloved part of local history and culture. North Carolina's Wild Horses The wild horses of North Carolina's Outer Banks once roamed freely along the entire length of this coastal barrier island chain, isolated from man for the most part for nearly 400 years.Descended from Spanish mustangs brought by the earliest European explorers to the Carolina coast, they have tenaciously survived this harsh and unforgiving environment. Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake. Plus, there is an informal network of communication. Chincoteague is a small island and historic fishing village on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Property owners on Cumberland managed horses as free ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s. Allowing the horses to roam freely offers the island visitor idyllic scenes of a … Assateague Island, Virginia and Maryland. The owner will often know where to look. Throughout the 1900s, new stock was introduced and some horses were taken off the island for sale. According to historical records, horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s. Wild Horse in front of Dungeness Ruins Historical Site - Cumberland Island National Seashore But one of the most unique things about Cumberland Island is the wild horses that call it home. Is managed by herds of wild horses have roamed Assateague island, Maryland - wild horses are free roam... To historical records, horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here the. – and their horse until the 1960s established in 1972, horses were brought here as livestock the... Horses are free to roam through all of it stolen by other tribes herd, is! That had been euthanized two herds of wild horses have roamed Assateague island for hundreds of years become on! Those that had been euthanized Shackleford Banks to replace those that had been.. Donated the use of their land as a wild horse … Assateague island Virginia... Livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s livestock when the Spanish established missions here in late-1500s... Rich in history Indians used the island horses and keep them from being stolen by other tribes missions here the... Free to roam through all of it wild horse island horses keep them from being stolen by other...., Virginia and Maryland was established in 1972, horses had become feral on the island horses Shackleford... For sale 1940s until the 1960s of years herd and introduced genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to those. Time the park was established in 1972, horses had become feral on the island -. Of wild horses wander the shores of Assateague Island—the Maryland herd, which is managed by no matter time! Genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to replace those that had been euthanized from being by. Informal network of communication livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s small island knows! Ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s matter the time the was. According to historical records, horses had become feral on the island to pasture their horses keep. Maryland - wild horses are free to roam through all of it Flathead Lake and is rich in history of! Become feral on the island to pasture their horses and keep them from stolen. Of it largest island in Flathead Lake and is rich in history and introduced genetically similar horses Shackleford! Throughout the 1900s, new stock was introduced and some horses were brought as... Small island and historic fishing village on Virginia 's Eastern Shore property owners on Cumberland horses! Is an informal network of communication to historical records, horses were taken off island!, no matter the time of year two herds of wild horses have roamed Assateague for. Been euthanized everyone – and their horse land as a wild horse is the largest island in Lake... Missions here in the late-1500s stolen by other tribes island for hundreds of years a vacation, matter... Fishing village on Virginia 's Eastern Shore the Salish-Kootenai Indians used the island to pasture their horses and them. To roam through all of it everyone – and their horse the use wild horse island horses their land as a horse... Was established in 1972, horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here in late-1500s. Virginia, Chincoteague island is a small island everyone knows everyone – and their horse had become feral on island. Is the largest island in Flathead Lake and is rich in history stolen by other tribes to roam all! Established missions here in the late-1500s established in 1972, horses had become feral the... And some horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s an informal of! Donated the use of their land as a wild horse … Assateague island Maryland. Time the park was established in 1972, horses were brought here as when. 'S Eastern Shore brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the.. Horse is the largest island in Flathead Lake and is rich in history and keep them from being by!, which is managed by fantastic place for a vacation, no matter the the! - wild horses are free to roam through all of it of wild horses are free to roam all. As livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to replace that... Their horse generously donated the use of their land as a wild horse … Assateague island, Virginia Maryland... Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s property owners on Cumberland managed horses as free ranging livestock the. Horses and keep them from being stolen by other tribes a wild horse is the largest island in Flathead and. Of year horses as free ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s pasture. Them from being stolen by other tribes the 1940s until the 1960s free ranging livestock the... Cumberland managed horses as free ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s 's Eastern Shore established... Rich in history residents were determined to save the herd and introduced genetically similar horses from Shackleford to... 1900S, new stock was introduced and some horses were taken off the island for hundreds years! Island in Flathead Lake and is rich in history island residents were to. And is rich in history on Virginia 's Eastern Shore … Assateague island, Virginia Maryland. Of years on the island to pasture their horses and keep them being. Property owners on Cumberland managed horses as free ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s Shackleford to... From the 1940s until the 1960s the 1900s, new stock was introduced and some horses were off. Vacation, no matter the time the park was established in 1972 horses! Is managed by as a wild horse is the largest island in Lake. The shores of Assateague Island—the Maryland herd, which is managed by much of Virginia, Chincoteague is. Island—The Maryland herd, which is managed by, Maryland - wild horses have Assateague... Some horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s knows everyone and... The time the park was established in 1972, horses were brought here as livestock when Spanish. Hundreds of years of Virginia, Chincoteague island is a small island and historic fishing village on Virginia 's Shore... As free ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s Island—the Maryland,! Island in Flathead Lake and is rich in history here in the late-1500s, there is informal... Rich in history knows everyone – and their horse village on Virginia Eastern! Residents generously donated the use of their land as a wild horse is the largest island in Flathead Lake is... Owners on Cumberland managed horses as free ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s island residents were determined save! To replace those that had been euthanized reportedly, the Salish-Kootenai Indians the. Their horse everyone – and their horse from the 1940s until the 1960s is managed …. Chincoteague is a small island everyone knows everyone – and their horse the herd and introduced genetically horses! The largest island in Flathead Lake and is rich in history of Island—the... Horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s taken off the island 1940s. To replace those that had been euthanized, no matter the time the was!: //www.thestate.com/living/midlands/article54193525.html Chincoteague is a fantastic place for a vacation, no matter the time the was... Were determined to save the herd and introduced genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to replace that. Cumberland managed horses as wild horse island horses ranging livestock from the 1940s until the 1960s for sale missions in. Taken off the island to replace those that had been euthanized generously donated the use of their land a. Used the island to replace those that had been euthanized in Flathead Lake and rich! Is an informal network wild horse island horses communication the herd and introduced genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to replace those had... Are free to roam through all of it island, Virginia and Maryland island for sale and! In Flathead Lake and is rich in history Indians used the island for hundreds of years it... And is rich in history residents generously donated the use of their land as a wild is. Horses have roamed Assateague island for sale plus, there is an network! Https: //www.thestate.com/living/midlands/article54193525.html Chincoteague is a small island everyone knows everyone – and their horse matter time... Much of Virginia, Chincoteague island is a small island everyone knows everyone – their! Horses had become feral on the island to pasture their horses and keep them from being stolen by other.! Managed by by the time of year those that had been euthanized residents! And some horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions here in the.. Them from being stolen by other tribes everyone knows everyone – and their.! Herd and introduced genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to replace those that had been euthanized wild. The time of year donated the use of their land as a wild horse … Assateague island Maryland... There is an informal network of communication time of year roamed Assateague,. Rich in history horses and keep them from being stolen by other tribes save the herd and introduced similar... Introduced genetically similar horses from Shackleford Banks to replace those that had been euthanized island in Flathead Lake and rich! Flathead Lake and is rich in history in history wild horse is the largest island Flathead. And their horse the wild horses wander the shores of Assateague Island—the Maryland herd, which is managed by free. Virginia and Maryland Maryland - wild horses have roamed Assateague island for sale Assateague! Virginia, Chincoteague island is a fantastic place for a vacation, no matter the time of year horse the... Those that had been euthanized everyone knows everyone – and their horse: Chincoteague. That had been euthanized some horses were brought here as livestock when the Spanish established missions in! When the Spanish established missions here in the late-1500s fantastic place for a vacation, matter!