


That said, admiring the horses from a distance is its own reward, and the photos that can be snapped of a small herd wandering along the ocean wash, or grazing lightly in the sand dunes, are easily the most treasured souvenirs of any Outer Banks vacation for lucky Carova visitors who just happen to cross their path. Fruits and vegetables can cause serious injury or even death to the horse. Wild horses have a very different diet from domesticated animals. It is illegal (and dangerous) to approach within 50 feet of the horses. Visitors are reminded that the Wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs are, in fact, wild. Obviously, vacationers won't be able to expect to ride the horses, or come close enough for a pet on the neck. It's because of this desolation, coupled with the help from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, that the wild horses are able to thrive, relatively undisturbed by the limited development that has sprung up around them over the past 50 years. Stranded on the Outer Banks for centuries, but still enjoying the laid-back beach lifestyle, these feral and wild creatures are tolerant of the visitors who visit their beaches for the warm sun, cool waves, and miles of space. Visitors to the 4WD accessible beaches just north of Carova may experience a truly remarkable encounter with the area's oldest and most beloved residents, the Wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs.
