There were 121 horses on Shackleford Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore at the end of 2021/NPS

Shackleford Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina continues to support a healthy population of horses, according to the national seashore's annual report on the herd.

At the end of 2021 the population numbered 121, up from 117 counted at the end of 2020. The population is managed with a target range of 120 to 130 horses. The year-end population has ranged between 105 and 126 since 2005.

According to the report, 61 percent of the herd is female. Of 31 horses 15 years old or older, 27 are female and four male. The oldest horse is a 28-year-old mare, the seashore's report noted. Since 1999, the average lifespan of horses on Shackleford Banks has been approximately 11 years.

During 2021 11 foals were sighted on the barrier island.

Cape Lookout National Seashore and the Foundation for Shackleford Horses emphasize that the most important factor in protecting the wild horses is public education. As a result, they have increased efforts to inform the public how best to watch the horses without interacting with them or interrupting their natural behavior. These messages are regularly communicated in the media and through programs like the Park’s “Horse Sense and Survival” tours, which will resume in 2022.

The park offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about the wild horses by taking part in the Junior Ranger Wild Horse Protector activity. Designed for kids in grades 6 through 8, a parent, guardian, or youth leader may check out a backpack with instruments needed to complete activities like those done by the wild horse biologist. Upon completion, students receive an award and are certified as Wild Horse Protectors.