Shackleford Island Has Wild Horses! Here’s How to Find Them
Wild horses still exist in the US, can you believe it? Shackleford Island off the coast of North Carolina is home to a unique species of Outer Banks wild horses with a rich history. Here’s everything to know about finding these wild horses in North Carolina!
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FAQ
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Shackleford Island is an isolated barrier island located between Beaufort Inlet and Cape Lookout in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and is only accessible by boat.
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Yes! Shackleford Island has a beautiful coastline, primed for swimming. It can be a little wavy depending on the wind, but it’s a gorgeous spot to go for a dip!
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Nope, Shackleford Island has no roads or any type of civilization for that matter. It’s totally wild with only primitive walking trails that wind through the brush.
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Yes! There are composting toilets about a half mile from the west end of the island (where the ferry drops you).
Table of Contents
About Shackleford Island and its Wild Horses
Shackleford Island is the southern-most barrier island of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Over 100 wild horses live on this 9-mile long stretch of land. But how did they get here? When the Spaniards sailed the seas way back in the day, many of their ships wrecked off the east coast, and the horses they had on board swam to shore. These Outer Banks wild horses adapted and survived by eating Uniola (sea oats) and drinking water from Shackleford Island’s various ponds, pools, and digs for over 400 years. How cool is that?!
Herd Management
Because the horses have no natural predators on the island, the Park has to control the population to ensure a thriving ecosystem. For example, if there are too many horses, food will become scarce and the younger and older horses are the most likely to suffer. If there’s less vegetation from too much foraging, the island could face heightened erosion from wind and waves that could depelte the marshes and grasses.
So, they control the herd size by immunocontraception (or birth control) and removal, with the decision based on science.
Know Before You Go
In an effort to keep these horses wild and minimize our impact, here are some things to keep in mind when visiting:
Keep your distance! The National Park Service recommends keeping at least 50’ (or the length of a bus) between you and the wild horses for both your and their safety. They’re not used to human interaction and may buck, bite, or charge if they feel like they’re in danger.
Bring binoculars. We all want to be up close and personal with these beauts, and binoculars help you see those little details–their coat, magical manes blowing in the wind, their intelligent eyes–at a safe distance, without having to enter into the 50’ no-go zone.
The horses have the right of way. The Outer Banks wild horses have the right of way. If they move towards you, calmly back away and give them space.
Keep your dog on a leash. Dogs are allowed as long as they’re leashed.
Bring more than enough fresh water. There’s nowhere to get fresh drinking water on the island (for humans), so bring more water than you think you’ll need!
Always leave no trace! Pack out what you pack in, NEVER feed the horses, and be respectful of others’ experiences. Freshen up on your leave no trace principles here.
The Island Ferry Adventures Ferry Service goes Sand Dollar Island, Carrot Island, and Bird Shoals in the Outer Banks.
How to Get to Shackleford Island
The Island Express ferry system offers a scenic 20-30 minute ferry ride out of Beaufort, North Carolina, to the west end of Shackleford Banks. The ferry to Shackleford Island costs $20 round-trip for adults, $13 children, and infants under 2 ride free of charge.
The sailing schedule changes with the seasons, so be sure to check the Island Express website before you go!
Reservations aren’t required, but I highly recommend making one if you can! There’s also a walk-up window at the Beaufort docks where you can try to snag a spot day-of.
My Shackleford Banks Adventure
We pulled into Beaufort early that morning with one goal: take the ferry to Shackleford Island, and hopefully see some wild horses.
I thought wild horses were a thing of the past–back when the West was still “wild” and the horses roamed freely over the open plains. Little did I know there are still a handful of wild horses roaming freely on North Carolina’s very own Outer Banks, so I had to see them for myself!
We knew it was hit or miss. Sometimes you see them, sometimes you don’t, but we were willing to risk it for the biscuit.
Beaufort from the water.
It was a dull day, a little rain blew through here and there, which meant the ferries were relatively empty. Ideal. After making an online reservation a few days prior, we were ready to test our luck at seeing a few of these gorgeous creatures.
Saw this massive sailboat at the docks!
The short 25-minute pontoon boat ride went by super fast. We were there before we knew it, but also managed to sneak in a few questions that the Captain happily answered. “There were horse spottings just 30 minutes ago behind the bathrooms to the left as you disembark the boat. There’s a little watering hole they like to frequent, and that’ll be your best bet for spotting them today.” Say less.
The captain drove the boat onto the sand and lowered the ramp off the bow. We all filed out one by one. Nearly everyone went right and I questioned everything. What are we missing? Does no one else care about the horses? We decided to stick with the Captain’s recommendation instead of following the crowd, and sent it left towards the center of the island.
We found the composting toilets and followed a trail that led behind them. It continued up into the dunes, between shrubbery and sea oats, and eventually turned into a web of intersecting sand trails–I’m assuming some were human and others by horses. No animals in sight. So we continued walking.
Then I saw a bush move. I squinted and could just make out a head. “HORSE!!!” I whisper-yelled and it took everything in me not to jump up and down in excitement. Then, I saw another, and another. It was a whole harem of wild horses!
We were in the middle of the island, surrounded by dunes, and a little over 50’ away from seven wild horses including one tiny little mare snacking on sea oats. They had zero cares. They totally knew this was their island, and humans are just merely passing through.
We hung out with them for a good hour, just watching them do their thing, until we finally decided to continue down the path–we had a return ferry to catch and still wanted to see the other side of the island!
Walking to the north side of Shackleford Island after hanging with the wild horses.
We did a little beach combing, found some gorgeous shells, but left them for another beach comber to find.
Don’t forget to look up! We saw a pod of dolphins playing in the waves just off the shore–magical creatures!
Rounding the tip of the west end of the island, we saw why the entire boat went right. A large group set up a canopy, brought coolers, and were fishing off the beach. It was a party! We waved as we passed by and continued rounding the tip of the island until we reached the pick up zone.
We still had about 20 minutes until our scheduled pick up, so we took a quick beach nap. So freaking nice.
Shackleford Banks Tours
If you want the best chance to see these wild horses but a horse-spotting pro, consider booking a Shackleford Banks tour!
Shackleford Banks Wild Horse and Sea Shelling Safari.
Help your guide track the Outer Banks wild horses and learn about their behavior first-hand. After befriending a horse or five (from a safe distance), you’ll get to beach comb one of the best shelling beaches in all of North Carolina. Keep an eye out for conchs, whelks, queen’s helmets, scotch bonnets, olive shells, sand dollars, and more!
Harkers Island Combo Trip to Shackleford Banks & Cape Lookout
Two beautiful Cape Lookout National Seashore destinations in one day! Catch the ferry out of Harkers Island Visitor Center for your First stop: Shackleford Banks-East, then finish your day at Cape Lookout (home of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse) while looking for dolphins, birds, wild horses, and more.
