Wild horses of Ocracoke Island

It is believed that the ponies arrived on Ocracoke Island from shipwrecks.  Along with other wild horses along the Outer Banks, they share genetic links with the Spanish conquistadors' horses as far back as the 16th century.   There were once as many as 300 ponies roaming the island.  They are small and survive mostly on salt grass.  They are also known as "Banker ponies."