The banker ponies of North Carolina and the Ghyben-Herzberg principle.

This research study explores the habitat of the banker ponies, feral horses found in certain parts of the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina. The study discusses the geographical features of the Outer Banks and elaborates on the vegetation and limited fresh water availability in the region. It delves into the characteristics of the ponies and their social structure of harems.

Geographical Features of the Outer Banks

• The Outer Banks is a long stretch of sandy barrier reef that runs from lower Virginia to Morehead City in North Carolina, comprising of a peninsula and a series of islands. The greatest distance from the mainland to the island is about 30 miles, with an average width of less than a mile. The elevation above sea level rarely exceeds 20 feet, except for an area with sand dunes up to 100 feet high.
• The surface of the reef is predominantly sandy, interspersed with areas where coarse or marsh grasses predominate. There are also dwarfed trees and myrtles present on the islands.

Limited Fresh Water Resources

• There are no fresh water springs or streams available on the entire island chain. Until recently, rainwater was the only source of drinking water for human inhabitants.

The Banker Ponies of North Carolina

• The subject of this study, the banker ponies, are feral horses that inhabit two regions of the Outer Banks – Ocracoke Island and Shackleford Banks.
• They have been known to inhabit these areas for at least two centuries, though how they got there remains a mystery. Local folklore suggests that they may have swum ashore from shipwrecked Spanish galleons.
• The ponies are smaller than most domestic horse breeds and display a variety of colours. They have long manes and tails and usually travel in groups of 4-10 called harems, which generally consist of one stallion, several mares, and colts. Young stallions may also be present on the outskirts of the harem.