Wild Stallion Atop a Dune Along the NC Coast

A wild stallion stands on top of a sand dune in the Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve. He is standing watch over his harem, making sure the strange human presents no threat.Horses have been living wild along the North Carolina coast for nearly 500 years. While life is hard on these desolate islands they have managed to survive. While some biologists consider them an invasive species, with a five century history on this continent I think it seems fair to think of them as a naturalized species. It would be a shame if they were removed from this landscape.