The Whalehead in Historic Corolla

The most famous local residents in the Northern Outer Banks are notoriously shy and may be hard to spot, but are nevertheless an incredible and unforgettable sight for visitors who are lucky enough to cross their paths. The Wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs(Corolla's Wild Horses) are thought to date back more than 500 years as the descendants of shipwrecked Spanish mustangs, and today freely roam the beaches north of Corolla's paved town borders. Carova and 4WD beach explorers have the best chance of catching a glimpse of these beauties, which are slightly smaller in stature than modern horses, and visitors who are staying in the 4WD area may even encounter a view of the wild horses grazing in their own vacation rental home's backyard. Carova visitors will want to have a camera handy at all time in case these locals make an appearance, and despite their docile appearance, beach-goers will want to keep their distance, as these Outer Banks horses are unmistakably and ultimately completely wild. Visitors who want to learn their story can also make a stop at the Corolla Wild Horse Museum or sign up for a Corolla Wild Horse Tour for an in-depth look at these amazing OBX locals.