One of the truly spectacular places to visit in North Carolina is the Outer Banks. There are many fabulous sites to see, and things to do. And just as spactacular are the wild horses that live on the Outer Banks.
Yes, real wild horses. For over 400 years these horses, descendents of Arabian horses, have roamed free along North Carolinas Outer banks. The horses themselves were bred long ago to survive in harsh environments, and are known as Barb horses, for the Barbary Coast where they were bred. Spanish and Portugese explorers brought the Barb’s with them to the shores of America back in the 1500’s.
During the next 2 centuries, other horses of Spanish descent were transported to the New World, breeding with the Barb’s. And, over time, these horses became less and less domestic, to the point where they roam wild and free, or at least as free as they can in the ever populating portions of the Outer Banks.
The Outer Banks are a tough environment. Hot sand and sun, along with tropical storms in the summer, cold ocean winds, freezing rain, and the occasional Nor’easter and snow storm in the winter. Salt water all the time. Plus the human population and what we bring. For most, this would be a harsh environment to thrive in. For the horses of Corolla, it is home.
