Protecting the Horses of Assateague Island National Seashore

Jul 14, 2011
Elizabeth Batt

Habituation has turned the horse's flight instinct into fight - Image Courtesy of The National Park Service

Human interaction has turned Assateague's wild horses into aggressive equines with little fear of people. Now the NPS is doing something about it.

An accumulation of visitors to Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIP), has turned the nature of its resident feral horses from fear into aggression. Years of human interaction have served to dull the herds' natural flight instinct, creating a huge headache for the National Park Service (NPS). On July 11, 2011, in a move to protect both equine and human, the NPS announced the implementation of stricter regulations for horse-human interaction.

Camping and food equals equine fast snack

The horses of Assateague have always been a popular tourist attraction, despite the area remaining undeveloped, but camping is allowed in the Maryland district of the Island – the same area where wild horses freely roam. Unfortunately this combination of people and camping served only to present Assateague's horses with the opportunity for an easy equine snack, and they've been taking advantage of it ever since.

Having now become habituated to the presence of people, horses are quick to raid campgrounds for food, including cooler boxes, tents and anything left out on picnic tables. Rather than being shooed away, territorial stallions are standing their ground, endangering both human and horse. One only has to visit You Tube to watch videos on how closely these horses are willing to get, and how unafraid of people they are.

Assateague's horses are feral and come from domestic stock

Assateague's horses were introduced to the Island in the 1600s when colonists used the area as a grazing ground for horses and livestock. The wild horses of Assateague today, are descendents of these originally domesticated equines, who have reverted to a wild state and are now feral.

Assateague is a barrier island located off the Atlantic coast of Maryland and Virginia. In 1965, the 24.4 sq mile Assateague Island became a National Seashore. In the Maryland portion of the island, all horses run wild and free, but in the Virginia district, horses are fenced and privately owned.

Feeding and petting any wild animal is illegal and that includes Assateague's equines. Unfortunately, people have this innate yearning to reach the unreachable and when they succeed, the divide between human and animal gradually dwindles away into nonexistence. It is typically the animal who doesn't know any better, who ends up paying the price.

In an attempt to control the situation further, the NPS has instituted new Island rules for all visitors and campers. People may no longer willfully be within 10-feet of a wild horse. Touching, feeding or attempting to attract wild equines has always been illegal but to further enforce this, visitors must ensure that food and trash be stored in hard-sided, lockable containers such as the trunk of car, or in a cooler that bears a secure latch. Furthermore, says the NPS, food may no longer be left on picnic tables or in tents, where horses can gain access to it.

For additional details on Assateague and its wild horses, visit the National Park Service at NPS.gov to learn how to view these equines safely and see the consequences of poor decisions. Or contact Assateague's various divisions directly at, Maryland District Visitor Information (410) 641-1441; National Seashore Camping (410) 641-3030 or Virginia District Visitor Information (757) 336-6577.