News Release

Assateague Island National Seashore Wild Horse Update – July 2019

NPS Photo

News Release Date: July 12, 2019

Contact: Liz Davis, 410-629-6087

Berlin, MD - The National Park Service has completed its July 2019 population census of the wild horses on Assateague Island.  The total population of the Maryland herd is currently at 77 horses, including 22 stallions and 55 mares.  All horses were located and there were no births or deaths documented during the census.

The National Park Service completes a full census of the horse population in Maryland six times per year, in February, March, May, July, September, and November.  Managed as a wildlife population, the Assateague horses are free to roam over approximately 27 miles of the barrier island and can be difficult to find at times. During each census, horses are identified by their distinguishing characteristics, mapped and counted. Individual horses that are not observed during multiple census periods are presumed dead.  The purpose of the census is to monitor the overall population dynamics of the horse herd in support of the long term fertility control program that was initiated in 1994.