One of the most unique aspects of Carova Beach is the Wild Horses that roam free, descendents of the Spanish mustangs first brought to the North Carolina shores by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century.
The Famous Corolla Wild Horses
The wild horses of Carova Beach are one of the most extraordinary things you'll encounter anywhere on the Outer Banks. These aren't trained animals or tourist attractions — they're genuinely wild horses that roam freely across the 4x4 beaches, often wandering right past rental homes, down the beach road, or along the shoreline at sunrise.
Believed to be descendants of Colonial Spanish Mustangs brought to the Outer Banks as early as the 1500s, the herd is protected and managed by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. There are typically 100 or fewer horses in the herd, and they have free range of the beaches north of Corolla.
Tips for encountering the wild horses:
- Stay at least 50 feet away at all times — it's the law, and it keeps both you and the horses safe
- Never feed them
- Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to spot them
- They frequently appear near the dunes and beach road, not always on the oceanfront
Watching a band of wild horses walk the shoreline at sunset is the kind of thing guests talk about for years.
Thank you to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund for providing the following information about these incredible creatures. Visit their website at www.corollawildhorses.com to learn more about the history of the Banker Horses of Carova, and be sure to check out the Corolla Wild Horse Fund Museum and Store while you're in town!
To see more photos of the horses on Carova Beach, visit our Facebook Page.
To learn more about the Corolla Wild Horses, please visit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund website.
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