One of my favorite books, as a kid, was Misty of Chincoteague, which cemented a fascination with wild ponies galloping along the seashore. While Misty was actually from the Virginia coast, North Carolina’s Outer Banks—a narrow stretch of islands buffeting the coastal region from the brutal waters of the Atlantic—is home to its own equine population.
Featured in The Wild Horses of Shakleford Banks (John F. Blair, 2007), one group of ponies has been photographed over the generations. Descended from Spanish horses transported to the Americas about 400 years ago, these ponies are now protected so that they can continue to live freely on the islands.
According to OuterBanksGuideBook, “Shackleford Banks is accessed from Beaufort and Harker’s Island by Park Service approved private passenger ferries, or by private boat.” A group of horses known as the “banker ponies” are easily located on Okracoke Island. Harder to spot are the wild horses north of Corolla. The guide web site explains, “Visitors without a 4-wheel drive vehicle can take advantage of guided tours to see the horses.”
Beyond pony-spotting, visitors to the Outer Banks can enjoy a wealth of outdoor activities, miles of beaches, historical sites, camping, museums, parks and the aforementioned wildlife. To learn more, click here.
For more NC-based travel ideas, check out the Apr. 4 issue of Xpress.
—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
Me too! I lived for Misty. Many years ago, I got to see some wild ponies near Harker’s Island from the vantage point of a little crabbing boat operated by a local fisherman. The ones I saw didn’t look all sleek like these photos, but more like little woolly mammoths. Still, they were utterly darling…