The Shackleford's wild Horses are from a Spanish Mustang ancestry. Even though they are closely related to the Outer Banks Spanish Mustang Bankers, these horses have been isolated for over 500 years that they have created their own breed. The Outer Bank Banker Mustangs have had some other breeds added into the mix back in the 1930s-1940s when the heard was down to only 20 horses. They do not know the exact story how the horses got on Shackleford Island.
