Frequently Asked Questions

An Open-Air Adventure Tour is a 2 hour, off road excursion in our custom-built open-air vehicles which take you through the maritime forest, marsh and beach ecosystems of Corolla’s northern Outer Banks in search of the wild Banker Horses.

While sightings can’t be guaranteed because these are wild, free-roaming animals, our guides know the herds’ territory and habits well, and an overwhelming majority of our tours find horses.

The tour runs approximately 2 hours and includes round-trip off-road transportation, a guided narration on Banker Horse history and Outer Banks ecology and access to the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Swan Beach. Our exclusive transportation access to the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Swan Beach means you may see these horses in a landscape almost nobody else reaches. Be sure to arrive 30 minutes early to complete your check in and waivers. If you will have a child in your party who needs a car seat, please bring it with you and we will have you install it into one of our tour vehicles prior to our departure.

Yes! This is one of the few Outer Banks activities built for all ages. Every seat has a seatbelt and child-restraint compatibility and our guides pace the tour with information and fun facts for the young and young at heart.

We recommend booking in advance, especially for tours in peak season (May – September) when tours are typically sold out each day. Same-day availability occasionally does happen, but is not guaranteed.

Dress for wind and sun. A light jacket or windbreaker may make you more comfortable.

Sunglasses, sunscreen are also recommended. Our vehicles do have an overhead canopy, but there are no windows on the sides of the vehicle for better viewing of the horses.

Don’t forget your camera or smartphone with plenty of storage for Banker horse pictures too!

Tours run in rain since the vehicles are open-air but weather-adapted with an overhead canopy. In the case of severe weather, we will contact you to reschedule or will provide a refund. Check your confirmation email for real-time updates.

We ask that all patrons use the facilities prior to the tour departure, and we do understand that emergencies happen, but we do not typically stop on a tour for a restroom break. Please try to plan accordingly.

We only allow ADA Complaint service animals trained to perform a specific task. We cannot allow emotional support animals or pets.

Tipping is not required, but it is appreciated and customary for guests who feel their guide went above and beyond. Most guests tip 15% – 20%, similar to other guided tour experiences.

A portion of every tour supports the ongoing conservation and monitoring work that keeps the Corolla herd protected and wild. Booking with Wild Horse Adventure Tours allows us to contribute a portion of our sales to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, which is the nonprofit that helps to manage, care for and protect the herd.

Our office and tour location is 610 Currituck Clubhouse Drive, Corolla, NC 27827. Plan your route and account for traffic during peak season (May – September). We run tours on a tight schedule and can not hold a tour for late arrivals.

Since there are so many harems and horses all over the beach and they are free to roam as they please, any time of day is a great time to see the horses. Our guides do a great job of knowing where the horses are typically spending their time at various points throughout the day

A Banker horse is wild, free-roaming horse breed that descended from Colonial Spanish Mustangs, found only on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Corolla herd is one of the last truly wild, genetically pure populations left in the country.

Historians believe Banker Horses descend from Spanish mustangs brought to the Outer Banks by explorers in the 1500’s, either shipwrecked or intentionally left to graze on the barrier islands. Their descendants have lived here, wild, ever since

Yes, Banker horses are a recognized strain of Colonial Spanish Mustangs, one of the purest surviving bloodlines of the horses the Spanish brought to the Americas.

The Corolla herd has approximately more than 100 horses living on the Currituck Outer Banks.

Yes, Banker horses in Corolla are protected under North Carolina and federal law, and it is illegal to approach, feed or touch them. People must stay at least 50 feet away at all times.

Banker horses have adapted over centuries to graze on marsh and dune grasses and drink from shallow freshwater pools they dig themselves, allowing them to survive with minimal fresh water and forage.

Since the Banker horses have been living for hundreds of years on the beach, they have adapted over the years. They tend to seek higher ground and hide amongst the trees during storms and reemerge once the storms have passed.

No, they have adapted hooves that wear naturally on the sand and don’t require shoes, unlike domesticated horses.

Banker horses are wild animals and can be unpredictable if approached, which is why people are told to only observe them from a safe and legal distance. Our guides know how to position for a close view without disturbing the herd.

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund, a local nonprofit, manages the herd’s health, population and protection in partnership with Currituck County. Supporting responsible tourism, like our tours, is one of the ways visitors can help fund that work.