Notes

Cumberland Island is part of the state of Georgia. The island is famous because more than 150 wild horses live there. Some stories say that these horses first came to the island with Spanish explorers in the 1500s. In reality, the horses probably came to Cumberland Island with English explorers in the 1700s.
2Over the years, the horses have served many purposes. In the early 1800s, visitors tamed a few of them and took them off the island to keep as pets. During the Civil War, some of the horses were used in the cavalry. This means that soldiers rode the horses into battle. After the Civil War, people from a nearby island even killed and ate some of the horses. Today, many tourists visit Cumberland Island to see the horses.
Wild vs. Domesticated Horses
3 The wild horses of Cumberland Island are different from domesticated horses. Life is more difficult for wild horses because they don’t have owners or vets looking after them. Because of this, wild horses have much shorter lives. For example, at birth, the wild foals are more likely to die. Later in life, they are more likely to get deadly infections and diseases.
The Future
4Researchers have studied the horses of Cumberland Island for many years. They estimate that there are between 170 and 200 horses on the island. Some researchers believe that such a large herd hurts the island. The horses eat too many of the island’s plants. They also trample the ground, which stops new plants from growing. These researchers think that the island only has enough resources for 50 to 70 horses.
5People who want to protect the land on Cumberland Island have suggested limiting the number of horses there. For example, they have suggested taking all the wild horses off of Cumberland Island or limiting the area of the island where the horses are allowed to live.
6Other researchers think the horses should be left alone. They argue that the horses have been on Cumberland Island for hundreds of years. Therefore, the horses should be allowed to stay. Also, they worry that if there were fewer horses on the island, the horses would have to inbreed more. Inbreeding is when animals that are closely related to one another reproduce. Inbreeding is a problem because it can make the horses weaker and more at risk for diseases. Over time, inbreeding could lead to the death of all the wild horses on Cumberland Island.
7At this time, the National Park Service is in charge of managing the horses on Cumberland Island. The National Park Service has not been trying to limit the number of horses on the island. In the future, their policy could change.