Few thigns are as majestic as a wild mustang galloping across the plains, but many people aren’t aware that you don’t have to go out west to experience the wonder of wild horses.

Congress has protected American wild horses since the mid-20th century after ranchers began killing them off, claiming they interfered with grazing cattle. Today, there are several places in the U.S. where you can spot free-roaming horses and ponies, but we think the most beautiful spot may be Assateague Island.

Assateague Island is home to extraordinary herds of wild horses and ponies.
Flickr/Mumu Matryoshka
This remote and windswept barrier island in Maryland and Virginia is beautiful in its own right, but the free-roaming ponies add another level of wonder.
Flickr/Eric B Walker
There are about 150 adult horses on the island. The creatures roam in bands of two to twelve and can be spotted on beaches, trails and forests.
Tripadvisor/Racetime14
Local folklore says that the horses are the survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast, but the more likely explanation is that they descended from 17th-century horses kept on the island to avoid livestock taxes.
Tripadvisor/tp2009
These animals are beautiful, but they’re also tough and wild.
Flickr/Mumu Matryoshka

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They graze over the island’s scrubby vegetation, gallop in groups and even fight amongst themselves.
Wikimedia Commons/Bonnie Gruenberg
You can easily visit the Assateague from Virginia or Maryland, as there is bridge access for cars from both sides.
Flickr/m01229
Though visitors aren’t permitted to touch or feed the horses because it endangers both the human and the animal, admiring them from a comfortable distance is an equally incredible experience.
Tripadvisor/Thekid26
Kayak touring is a popular and fun way to check out the island, and you can also camp right on the beach. The most popular times to visit are the spring and summer.
Flickr/Erin Drake
Visiting the wild horses of Assateague Island will give you memories to treasure for a lifetime.
Flickr/Dany

Click here to learn more about Assateague Island and how to visit for yourself. For more amazing American beauty, check out these 21 U.S. landmarks that you absolutely must see before you die.

 

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