Thought to be the oldest ponies in North America, the horses on the Outer Banks may have come from Spanish settlers and English traders. There are three major herds left to see on Shackleford Banks, Currituck, and Hatteras.
Described were three ways how the “oldest horse in North America” arrived on Outer Banks, all taking place during Elizabeth I’s reign. The population on Shackleford Banks and Currituck, low because of laws passed since the 1930s, could be considered valuable because of their demand. As for their value to the residents, called Bankers, that couldn’t be measured monetarily.