Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 days ago

Update - 8/19, 10pm: A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for the 4x4 area of Currituck County (where the wild horses live). This was done to prevent people from being stranded in their homes due to high surf, not because the forecast has changed. It does not change anything about the impact the storm will have on the horses - they have access to thousands of acres away from the ocean. Please be safe if you are heading out tomorrow!

We’ve been getting quite a few questions and concerns today about the hurricane - hopefully this answers those questions and puts some minds at ease.

This herd of wild horses lives in Currituck County, at the northernmost part of the Outer Banks. Their habitat ends at the Virginia state line, and comprises about 8,000 acres of land that includes maritime forest, marsh, and an 11 mile strand of beach. What you see when you drive around the area, take a horse tour, or even rent a vacation home is just a very small part of it. Check out these photos from a recent aerial survey to get a better idea of what the habitat looks like: www.facebook.com/share/19ezRWH1pw/

The Bankers have survived on these barrier islands for hundreds of years and have successfully weathered countless storms. It’s a natural part of life for them and has been for many, many generations. We would never round them up and move them ahead of a storm. It’s completely unfeasible and unsafe for a mile-long list of reasons, and would be a gross overreach from a herd management perspective.

Currituck County is not currently under a state of emergency nor have any evacuation orders been issued for us at this point. Hatteras (Dare County) and Ocracoke (Hyde County) are being evacuated due to the threat of ocean overwash on Highway 12, which will strand people for days if not longer. That is not currently a concern north of Oregon Inlet. For those unfamiliar with the area, the fire station in Carova where the wild horses live is 90 miles north of Cape Hatteras. Here in Currituck we are expecting minor to moderate coastal flooding through Thursday, a high risk of rip currents, and some wind (gusts up to 40mph) and rain Wednesday into Thursday.

The beach may be impassable at times, especially around high tide, but the impact on the horses should be very minimal. Of course, things could change and the unexpected could happen, but all we can do is keep an eye on the forecast, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. Such is life on the Outer Banks.

If you are vacationing here this week, please follow Currituck County Emergency Management for updates and adhere to their directives. Do not put yourself or our first responders in danger by going out into the ocean or driving through water. Please stay safe out there! ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

5 days ago

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” -Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

(Photos taken over the last week or so by our staff as they’ve been out monitoring the herd.)

www.corollawildhorses.org ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

At approximately 5am on Monday, August 11 a driver called 911 to report having struck a horse in the 2000 block of Sandpiper Road in the 4x4 area of Corolla. At this time we do not have any additional details about the nature of the collision or the driver, as that falls under the jurisdiction of the sheriff’s department.

The horse who was struck was 10-year-old stallion Francisco. He was an otherwise healthy, young stallion with a harem of four mares, a yearling colt, and a four-month-old colt (the colts’ parentage have not been verified by DNA so it is currently unknown if Francisco was sire to either of them). After examining the body, our veterinarian determined that Francisco sustained the following fatal injuries: complete fracture of the radius and ulna, ruptured eye with periocular fractures, fractured ribs with subcutaneous emphysema, and likely ruptured diaphragm with pneumoabdomen.

Our staff has observed the rest of the horses in the harem behaving normally and we have no reason to be concerned for their safety or well-being at this time.

Please drive carefully and be aware of your surroundings at all times. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of obeying all traffic regulations on the 4-wheel-drive. These tragic incidents can be avoided through vigilance and personal responsibility.

*Media has permission to use the information and photos contained in this post with credit to CWHF

www.corollawildhorses.org ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

By shopping from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, you are helping the Banker horses and our mission to protect and preserve them with every purchase you make. We are the only place where 100% of the proceeds go to help the horses.

Not only have we added new items to our gift shop in Corolla and online, we are fully stocked with CWHF exclusive merchandise that you can’t find anywhere else. From hats to wine glasses, magnets and ornaments, bottle openers and coasters, t-shirts and keychains, and even locally-made, natural soy candles - we have something for everyone!

www.corollawildhorses.com/cwhf-gift-shop/

And don’t forget to grab an annual Corolla Wild Horse Fund Calendar for 2026!

www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/cwhf-2026-calendar/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

We’ve had heat indexes in the upper 90s-100° for the last week or so…it’s been a pretty brutal summer as far as that goes. But today is overcast and breezy, and we’ve gotten some much needed rain too. Amazing how quickly the grass greens back up. 🌱🐴 Everyone is enjoying it while it lasts!

All photos taken today.

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

These photos were taken yesterday afternoon and posted to a different page, and we wanted to address the situation in the hopes that it prevents other people from doing it in the future.

There is a county ordinance that states “it shall be unlawful for any person to feed, ride, pet, or approach with the intent to feed, ride, or pet any wild horse.” You can read the ordinance in full here: www.corollawildhorses.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/wild-horse-ordinance.pdf

So, regardless of anything else - how dangerous it is for the people, how dangerous it is for the horses, your opinion on the matter, etc. etc., it is against the law. It is impossible to access the horses’ habitat without going past multiple signs stating that this is against the law - no one can say they didn’t know they weren’t supposed to get close to them. There is simply no excuse for this kind of behavior.

However, we also believe that it is important for people to understand why this is so dangerous and harmful, and this is especially true in this case since there are children involved.

These are wild horses. They may look calm at times, but that does not mean they are safe to approach. This mare in particular has shown aggression towards people in the past, and once even chased a woman and a small child down a dune that they had climbed in an attempt to get closer to her. This is normal, expected behavior - she is a wild animal who does not want people near her, she is territorial, and she is protective of her foal. Even a warning kick could be fatal, especially to a child whose head is level with her rear end. In the photos and video taken of this incident, the mare has her ears back and is clearly agitated that these people are getting so close. She moves away from them and eventually pushes her colt away as well.

Furthermore, there have been multiple stallions fighting over this mare for several weeks now. Both stallions were nearby when this interaction occurred and in a split second they could have been on top of these people.

These children are extremely lucky they did not get hurt. The adults in their group were negligent and put them in great danger by allowing them to approach these horses.

The horse that is being touched is a yearling. Young horses are very impressionable and more susceptible to being habituated than adults. This is a crucial learning time in this young horse’s life, and becoming overly familiar with humans could lead to his removal from the wild. Luckily he has a mother who is not habituated and who will hopefully teach him to avoid people. She did a good job in this instance, but soon enough this colt will be out on his own and at risk of these kinds of interactions without her there to be a good influence on him. Approaching and touching these young horses is incredibly harmful to their development. If they let you get close it does not mean that you are special or that you have some kind of connection with them. It means that you are taking advantage of a young, impressionable animal and doing harm that could change the course of his life and cause generations of genetic damage in an already threatened population.

We are not asking for much here. It is very easy to spend time on this beach without being harmful or destructive. If everyone followed the law and stayed 50ft away from the horses things like this would not happen. It’s so simple, and it will not negatively impact your time here in the slightest. Watch these horses from a distance and give them the space and respect they deserve as wild animals whose home you are extremely privileged to be able to visit.

Thank you to everyone who visits and who does follow the rules - we appreciate you and we are glad that you’re here. We also appreciate everyone who reports these infractions to the proper authorities. If it’s not reported and only posted on social media there can be no consequences.

If you witness someone putting themselves or the horses in danger, please immediately call 252-453-3633 so that law enforcement can be dispatched. ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

Sorry about the lack of posting lately...it's July. 😅😓 Hot, buggy, and busy! How about a photo dump of life on the northern Outer Banks lately? 🏖

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

The 2026 Corolla Wild Horse Fund Calendar is available now in both our gift shop in Corolla and online! We’re thrilled to showcase the winning photographs taken by our incredible supporters during visits to the Outer Banks. These breathtaking images offer a month-by-month glimpse into the lives and habits of these majestic horses, so you can enjoy seeing the Banker herd all year long.

Shipping is available nationwide!
The Museum and Gift Shop in Historic Corolla Village is open Mon-Fri from 9-3.

www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/cwhf-2026-calendar/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

The paint is for the canvas, not your friends’ faces. 🤣 Brio, Buster, and Arrow are doing some artwork right now for today’s open house! (Don’t worry, it’s non-toxic paint and we did wipe it off. 😉)

Come see us at the farm today from 10am-2pm - this painting and others will be for sale, all proceeds benefiting the horses!

More info: www.facebook.com/share/1AvbTwH6c7/?mibextid=wwXIfr ... See MoreSee Less