LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN MUSTANGS
Discover the history, legacy, and versatility of American mustangs and burros.
HISTORY OF WILD HORSES & BURROS
Wild horses are deeply connected to the heritage of the American West.
Discover the history, legacy, and versatility of these living symbols of freedom.
What is a mustang?
Mustang is the common term used for wild horses in the United States. Similarly, burro is the common term used for wild donkeys.
Defined by federal law, wild horses and burros are unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming horses or burros found on public lands in the United States.
Today’s mustangs hold rich heritage as descendants of horses who first came to the Americas with Spanish explorers and missionaries in the 1500s. As people began settling the West, more livestock joined the growing population, too, reaching an estimated total of around two million wild horses and burros by the late 1800s.
Preserving Mustangs:
Wild Horse Annie
The habitat gradually shrank as settlement increased. Herd size was controlled by ranchers and mustangers who hunted the horses or gathered them for sale. The emergence of domestic and international markets for horse meat further impacted demand for mustangs, as did the need for horses in World War I.
By the mid-1900s, the number of wild horses and burros roaming the West had dramatically decreased to an estimated size of 17,000.
In the 1950s, an unlikely champion emerged. Velma B. Johnston, who later became known as “Wild Horse Annie,” launched a campaign aiming to establish legislation to protect wild horses and burros across America.
Johnston’s “Pencil War” invited others, including thousands of school-aged children, to join her in writing letters to Congress asking for change on behalf of the shrinking mustang population. Congress responded by passing the 1959 Wild Horse Annie Act, followed by the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, and the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
The law charges the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, with the task of preserving, protecting, and placing wild horses and burros on public U.S land
THE STATE OF WILD HORSES
& BURROS TODAY
Many Americans don't realize we have thousands of wild horses still roaming the West —or, that there are also thousands of horses in holding.
Here's the how and why that's the case, and, most importantly, how you can help give wild horses and burros in short-term holding a loving forever home.
Land & Resource Management
With the passing of the Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the government declared wild horses should be managed in a manner that achieves a natural ecological balance on that range that supports multiple uses, including livestock grazing, wildlife, recreation, and more.
The BLM is responsible for managing the wild mustang and burro population across 26.9 million acres of public land. The USDA Forest Service is responsible for managing the nation's wild horses and burros on National Forest System lands. The Forest Service administers 34 active wild horse or burro territories in Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah. Approximately 24 of the 34, mostly in Nevada, are jointly managed in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management.
When managed at the appropriate management level (AML), wild horses can thrive on the range alongside other uses. However, when population numbers are allowed to increase beyond AML, there can be detrimental impacts to public rangelands.
This requires careful monitoring of herd size to ensure the wild horse and burro population doesn’t exceed habitat capacity.
​
Herd Management
To maintain this balance, the BLM and Forest Service orchestrate movement of animals and preparation of those mustangs and burros for adoption to qualified homes.
Enter the gather—the process of gathering excess wild horses and burros to remove them from public lands.
Gathered horses are transported into short-term holding facilities. Once there, they are evaluated to determine if they will be available for adoption or sale. (See our Adopt page for more information on the differences and determinations.)
The “Adopt-A-Horse” program was created to place excess wild horses and burros into private care. If no qualified private adopters are found, they are eventually moved into an off-range pasture for long-term care. This adoption program and process continues today, in addition to experimentation with fertility control as a means to manage the population.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
WILD HORSES & BURROS
Currently, more than 64,000 wild horses and burros are in off range holding facilities. This is where you—mustang or burro fans, owners, adopters, trainers, and supporters—have an opportunity to make a difference.
After facilitating more than 24,000 successful placements and adoptions since our founding in 2001, our vision has expanded.
At the Mustang Heritage Foundation, we’re dedicated to showcasing the grit, resilience, versatility, and talent that make the mustang special—so the more than 64,000 wild horses and burros in off range holding can find a loving forever home.
Will you join us?
You can be part of giving wild mustangs and burros in holding their forever home.
"I got my now 10-year-old Devils Garden Mustang, Atticus already trained.
From the moment he knew I was his owner, he placed his entire heart into mine. This is the horse that comes running up to you in the pasture. The one that will lay down next to you and take a nap, just because. He’s the one that loves every moment of attention and connection you’re able to give him.
Atticus does anything I ask of him—we’ve done dressage, jumping, poles, barrels, trails, and almost anything in between. He tries his hardest with no questions asked."
​
~ Emma Randels
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
LESSONS & ACTIVITIES
"Each of my mustangs has shaped and molded my life in such unique ways!
The mustang that started it all 8 years ago was a mare named Nickel. She’s been with me for 8 years now and has been used by guests to ride horses for the first time, lessons with special needs students at a summer camp, and even to horse shows with me. She really can adapt to whoever is on her and I love knowing whoever is on “The OG Nickel” is safe.
This mare is priceless and I wouldn’t sell her for all the money in the world!"
​
~ Katie Hartmann
