Witness the Beauty of Wild Ponies on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

The history of Ocracoke Island is intricately intertwined with the Banker ponies who still roam at a horse farm along the coast. The feral ponies now exist inside the boundaries of fences but have retained the characteristics of their wild ancestors. Local lore surrounding the origins of the horses varies widely, depending upon the source. The most accepted versions credit either a shipwreck of circus animals or Spanish explorers stopping on the island during their search for gold with the their arrival.

Island History

The sight of stallions running along the sand dunes and passing pirate ships have long since vanished from the horizon. But the majestic image of these fine creatures still demand attention from visitors.

Ocracoke Island was once a frequent haunt of the the infamous pirate, Blackbeard. Horse ownership was a staple for making a living and as a means of transportation for island dwellers. Ownership of the Banker ponies was fluid, with most horses running free until needed. The horses roamed freely about the small town, seeking food handouts and prancing through the streets at will. Residents had to keep their gates closed, or a pony would wander into their vegetable garden or eat a pie cooling in a kitchen window.

The population of the Banker ponies grew, as the stallions were mated at will with multiple mares. Islanders had to be quick on their feet and alert to the sound of pounding horse hooves. If something startled the horses, a stampeded through the small town streets. A "pony-penning" was held annually in July. The event was always a cause for excitement and celebration, with a festival like atmosphere. Visitors from the North Carolina mainland would travel to the Ocracoke Island to watch the collection of ponies.

Islanders would catch the foals of their mares and brand them, establishing ownership. A sale at the end of the annual round-up was the highlight of the event. Due to both the sure-footed nature of the horses gait and the beauty of their physique, they garnered a high price at auction. Taming of the horses took many months, and caused more than one cowboy to land on his backside during the process. Trainers would "gentle" the horses so they could be ridden by tempting them with treats and massaging the horses body to relieve itching. The Banker ponies fondness for sweets aided trainers during the "breaking" process.

Boy Scouts

During the 1950's, a retired military officer returned to his hometown and started a tradition which enriched the lives of young boys for decades. Major Marvin Howard assumed the role of Boy Scout leader and instilled his love of horses on his troop. Ocracoke became the first, and possibly still the only mounted Boy Scout troop. Barefoot and armed with his fishing or lawn mowing earnings, the scout embarked on a horseback adventure. After raising the them high price of $50 per pony, each boy would claim ownership and begin training the animal. Banker ponies remained free-roaming, and required the boy to train his pony to come when called.

The highlight of a year for the Boy Scout troop was the horse race in Buxton, NC. The troop rode 26 miles to catch a ferry to their destination. While every scout didn't win each race, the troop had an excellent record during the years of competition, beating the more expensive Quarter horses and Arabian breeds. The young riders also aided the Coast Guard as a mounted honor guard and assisted rangers during cattle round-ups. The mounted Boy Scout troop was featured in a novel, Wild Pony Island and in an article in Boy's Life magazine.

The take over of the island by the Cape Hatteras National Seashore was somewhat bittersweet for islanders. While the national park status meant the natural areas of the island would be protected against commercialization, the government did not want to be responsible for the feral horses. In the eyes of the government officials, the horses should be rounded up and removed just like the sheep, cattle and pigs which had roamed the island freely.

Marvin Howard, backed by island citizens fought to save the Banker ponies. The Boy Scout troop circulate a petition to fence in a field for the horses. While the animals would have a much altered state of life living inside a designated area, they would be able to remain on their beloved island. A compromise was reached and the National Park Service provided fence post for the project. Islanders, and Boy Scouts worked together to raise fund for the purchase of fencing and care of the animals. The state of North Carolina supplies additional monies to help with the care of the Banker ponies.

The added expense of "owning" a Banker pony came as a hard blow for the mounted scout troop. The boys and their families did not possess the means to care for penned horses. When the horses had roamed freely about the island, they ate marsh grass and boarded inside natural openings for protection from the elements. To complicate financial matters furthers for the young horsemen, the Boy Scouts of America organization decided to demand the troop carry insurance if they rode the animals as a part of their scouting experience. That was the final blow to the unique scouting program. Once the financial support of the Boy Scout troop ended, the cost of maintaining the horse pasture grew too great for the community. After a decade of lovingly caring for and learning about horses, the mounted scouts came to an end.

National Park Service

During the late 1960's, the National Park Service took control of the Banker ponies management. In less than ten years, the breed nearly extinct. Jim Henning, a park ranger was transferred to island and began growing and caring for the heard. The tide turned for the population of horses in 1973, due in large part to the effort of Henning and his wife Jeanetta.

Horse breeding is now monitored and controlled, keeping the heard both healthy and growing. Visitors to Ocracoke Island can watch the Banker ponies prance and play inside their pen from an observation tower.