A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

For 500 years, wild horses, descended from Spanish mustangs brought by the earliest European explorers, wandered the length of the Outer Banks freely. Today, only a handful of herds remain,

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

For 500 years, wild horses, descended from Spanish mustangs brought by the earliest European explorers, wandered the length of the Outer Banks freely. Today, only a handful of herds remain,

NC Icons: The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks

Play Icon

For 500 years, wild horses, descended from Spanish mustangs brought by the earliest European explorers, wandered the length of the Outer Banks freely. Today, only a handful of herds remain, but they aren’t hard to find — if you know where to look. Visitors can catch a glimpse of these resilient wild horses on Shackleford Banks, in Corolla, on Ocracoke, and at the Rachel Carson Reserve.

This story was published on Aug 16, 2022

Our State Staff

Since 1933, Our State has shared stories about North Carolina with readers both in state and around the world. We celebrate the people and places that make this state great. From the mountains to the coast, we feature North Carolina travel, history, food, and beautiful scenic photography.