Pony Pen — Attraction in Ocracoke Island

The horses of Ocracoke Island, known as Banker Ponies, are believed to be descendants of Spanish mustangs brought ashore after shipwrecks in the 16th century. One theory traces their arrival to the 1565 wreck of the Tiger, commanded by Sir Richard Grenville, who may have unloaded livestock onto the island. These ponies roamed freely for centuries, becoming part of the island’s culture and even serving in beach races and as work animals. In 1959, they were penned to protect them from increasing car traffic after the highway was built. Today, the remaining herd lives in a protected enclosure managed by the National Park Service, preserving a living link to Ocracoke’s maritime past.

Sadly, there weren't any ponies this morning when...

Pony Pasture is a delightful and peaceful stop along the way to the town of Ocracoke. There is a trail to the right of the Pony Pen that leads you to a lookout among the pasture the ponies can graze!! The trail is very easy and is all boardwalk making it more accessible for those with mobility devices! There is plenty of parking and also handicap parking available.

You can even "adopt" one of the ponies that helps continue providing care to the wild ponies.

I highly recommend stopping here before going on to town or on your way back to the ferry out to Hatteras Island!!

There is beach access across the road from the...

I think this place gets more hype than it deserves. You're very very likely to see at least one pony- it'll just be from far away.

I also feel like they could do a lot more to generate interest in these ponies and in the Adopt-a-Pony program. Especially considering they know exactly who is in the paddocks (they aren't wild, so no foals are ever going to be born without anyone knowing), they could easily put out names and pictures of each of the ponies one might spot to make this an interactive and...