Tag Archives: Ocracoke ponies

Ocracoke Village and Harbor, North Carolina

The 45-minute ferry ride from Hatteras is half the fun of visiting Ocracoke Island.  Our family’s annual summer vacations included a day trip to the island for fresh seafood and a visit to see the Ocracoke ponies.  Located on the southernmost edge of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Ocracoke has consistently been voted one of the Best Beaches in the country.

Ocracoke Village is a hub of action with its charming boutiques and waterfront restaurants.  Measuring 9.5 square miles, it is the perfect getaway from the mainland to enjoy the town’s laid-back atmosphere and island attitude.

One of my favorite activities on Ocracoke Island is to visit the  Blackbeard Museum at Teach’s Hole.  The kids loved reading about the island’s pirate history and learned more about the life of  Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard.  They were fascinated by the larger-than-life-sized Blackbeard wearing his pirate’s regalia and the replica of his ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Blackbeard was known for terrorizing the Atlantic seas and the mention of his name would terrorize even the burliest of seamen.  Standing nearly seven feet tall, his bushy beard was the deep dark color of night and it was said that he looked like the devil himself.  Sinking and capturing ships along the coast, he made Ocracoke Island his home base, building a two-story house known as “Blackbeard’s Castle.” Present day maps still identify Teach’s Hole, which is where Blackbeard met his demise on November 22, 1718. Stabbed twenty-two times and shot five, Lt. Maynard ordered his decapitation and his body tied to Maynard’s ship, ending the Golden Age of Piracy.

Several 18th century residences along the village date back to the time of Blackbeard.  The British Cemetery  was established when British ships were sunk by German submarines along the shores of the island during World War II.

In 1998, Fort Ocracoke was discovered about two miles from Ocracoke Village.  Previously constructed  as a Confederate fortification for the War of 1812, the octagon-shaped structure was built on Beacon Island in Ocracoke Inlet. Destroyed by the hurricanes of 1933, the fort has submerged into the Ocracoke inlet, although a memorial marks it location.

Quite a few outdoor activities include kiteboarding at Kite Point Beach, fishing at the various inlets and hiking the nature trail at Springer’s Point, a favorite hideout for Blackbeard.   We enjoyed finishing our active day at Ocracoke Harbor to gaze out on the fishing boats, sail boats and ferry transports running back and forth to the mainland.  Before sunset, we found a seat at a local restaurant to watch the sun disappear into the horizon before taking the ferry back to the mainland.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Ocracoke Island?  What was your favorite activity?  I would love to hear from you if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my day visit to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Blackbeard’s Exhibit at Teach’s Hole
935 Irvin Garrish Highway
PO Box 1718
Ocracoke, NC  27960
Telephone:  252 928 1718

  • Admission Fee:  Adults: $4 and Children, ages 7 to 12: $3   Children under seven are free with an adult and senior rates, 64 and over, are $3.
  • Hours:  Open Wednesday through Saturday 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM.
  • Amenities:   Gift shop and exhibits
  • Length of Visit:  1 hour
  • Tips for Your Visit:  The museum is only open in the afternoon.  Small children may be fearful of the Blackbeard figure.

Where to Stay:

The Castle B&B
155 Silver Lake Drive
Ocracoke, NC  27960
Telephone:  252 928 3505

Where to Eat:

SmacNally’s Bar & Grill
180 Irvin Garrish Hwy
Ocracoke, NC 27960
Telephone:  252 928 9999

One of my favorite pastimes in the Outer Banks is to order peel ‘n eat shrimp.  I ordered a half a pound and some fried okra.  I was in southern cuisine heaven.

What to Eat: 

  • Seafood along Irvin Garrish Highway for large shrimp in July when they are in season.  You can purchase them either plain or seasoned. Check out Ocracoke Seafood Company at 416 Irvin Garrish Highway.

What to Read: 

  • Blackbeard the Pirate:  A Reappraisal of His Life and Times, by Robert Earl Lee

Photo Guide for Ocracoke Island

  • The Outer Banks Scenic Highway that runs along the island for photos of the wild mustangs
  • Ocracoke Harbor
  • Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

Ocracoke’s Wild Horses

The highlight of our Hatteras vacation is always a stop at Ocracoke Island and what makes it more exciting is a stop at the corral to see the small herd of mustang ponies.  Known as the Banker Horse, these wild mustangs are said to have been descendants of the Spanish Galleon shipwrecks.  Their story dates back to 1565 when it was believed that the arrival of a ship from Spain, the Tiger, ran aground off of the coast of North Carolina.  The captain of the ship unloaded the livestock overboard to lighten its load and the horses swam to shore.   Their presence on Ocracoke Island was recorded in the 1730s when settlers first noticed them.  They were also found on the Hatteras islands as far north as Corolla and Nag’s Head.

As settlers continued to populate the coast of the Outer Banks, they captured the Banker Horse to tame them.  Soon the locals were racing the mustangs to see which horse was the fastest.  Eventually race tracks were created such as Jockey’s Ridge, southwest of the great sand dune at Nag’s Head beach.  The grandstands were built into the sand dunes which drew thousands of people to its site.  These races continued for several years, but today, most of these ponies reside on Ocracoke Island, protected as an endangered animal species.

By 1959, the Ocracoke ponies were secured by a fenced in property of 180 acres.  As tourism grew on the island and NC Highway 12 was completed, the horses were in danger of auto traffic and the National Park Service took action to provide shelter for them.

Scientific studies have confirmed that the Ocracoke herd of ponies exhibit the same DNA matching those of the Spanish Mustangs (the Q-ac genetic marker) and have similar physical attributes.  Such traits include their small height which measures anywhere from 52 to 59 inches, compact frames, a short back and smaller legs. They are also known to have wide foreheads and strong, short necks.  Their ability to carry heavy weight is due to their increased bone density which is five to ten times greater than the average horse.

The Bankers’ diet consists mainly of grass, bulrush, sea oats  and maritime forest, which would eventually have an impact on the ecology of the islands.  While many assumed it was the result of overgrazing, additional research determined that it was the horses’ hooves that were damaging the vegetative growth.  The horses, relying on pools of rainwater to drink, were known to “dig” with their hooves to reach surface water from 2.5 to 4 feet deep.  For this reason, the park system does not shoe the ponies.

Protected by the National Park Service, these ponies are feral and although they have a docile temperament, petting them is prohibited. The Park Service provides scheduled talks at the Ocracoke pony pen for those who want to see the Bankers and learn more about their history.  There is also an opportunity to “Adopt A Pony” with a small donation.  Donors will receive a photo of the horse they have adopted, an adoption certificate and summary of the pony’s history.  The charitable gift will help to feed the horses and contribute to their health care.

Have you visited the Ocracoke ponies?  I would be happy to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about the beautiful Bankers on Ocracoke and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Ocracoke Horses & Ponies

Where to Stay:

The Castle B&B
155 Silver Lake Drive
Ocracoke, NC  27960
Telephone:  252 928 3505

Where to Eat:

SMacNally’s Bar & Grill
180 Irvin Garrish Highway
Ocracoke, NC  27960
Telephone:  252 928 9999

There were several restaurant options, but we wanted a restaurant along the water.  A menu full of fried food, I had to try the Shrimp Po’Boy which came with fries.  We also decided to add the hushpuppies and coleslaw to our order, which were absolutely delicious!

What to Eat: 

  • Seafood along Irvin Garrish Highway for large shrimp in July when they are in season.  You can purchase them either plain or seasoned. Check out Ocracoke Seafood Company at 416 Irvin Garrish Highway.

What to Read: 

  • Blackbeard the Pirate:  A Reappraisal of His Life and Times, by Robert Earl Lee

Photo Guide for Ocracoke Island

  • The Outer Banks Scenic Highway that runs along the island for photos of the wild mustangs
  • Ocracoke Harbor
  • Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.