Finding Wild Horses & Burros in Puerto Rico
Return to Finding Wild Horses here for tips on visiting the range and to find herds in other states
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Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
(This herd is not BLM, NPS, or Forest Service)
Vieques is an island that is part of the US territory of Puerto Rico, located off the southeastern corner of the main island. You can get there via ferry or airplane.
It is easy to find free-roaming horses on Vieques Island because they are literally everywhere on the island. You might even see them grazing near the airport pick-up/drop-off area when you land there. The eastern and western thirds of Vieques Island are taken up by federal lands, the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, an artifact of the US military bombing range that was only decommissioned around the turn of the 21st century as a result of decades of citizen activism. Residential and agricultural development occupies the middle section of the island, which is just a total of 21 miles long. The horses here are generally Paso Finos. There is a mix of horses that are privately owned and which are allowed to roam free, along with horses who were once privately owned but whose owners can no longer afford to care for them, as well as horses who were born wild and will remain wild. They roam in bands around the island and like most wild horses they identify specific ranges that they tend to stick to. Some may be entirely on federal refuge land, and some may live entirely in one of the urbanized parts of the island.
You can rent cars and jeeps at one of a couple of auto rental businesses near the small airport. (Jeeps recommended especially for exploring the dirt roads of the wildlife refuge). Drive VERY carefully. The island speed limit is 35 on the main roads, and 10-15 on the town and beach roads. Horses often graze along the mowed roadsides, and they can appear around any corner, even in the middle of the road. There are also many free-roaming chickens and dogs who likewise deserve careful consideration while driving.
(The information on these herds generously provided by Jen Britton Photography)
(This herd is not BLM, NPS, or Forest Service)
Vieques is an island that is part of the US territory of Puerto Rico, located off the southeastern corner of the main island. You can get there via ferry or airplane.
It is easy to find free-roaming horses on Vieques Island because they are literally everywhere on the island. You might even see them grazing near the airport pick-up/drop-off area when you land there. The eastern and western thirds of Vieques Island are taken up by federal lands, the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, an artifact of the US military bombing range that was only decommissioned around the turn of the 21st century as a result of decades of citizen activism. Residential and agricultural development occupies the middle section of the island, which is just a total of 21 miles long. The horses here are generally Paso Finos. There is a mix of horses that are privately owned and which are allowed to roam free, along with horses who were once privately owned but whose owners can no longer afford to care for them, as well as horses who were born wild and will remain wild. They roam in bands around the island and like most wild horses they identify specific ranges that they tend to stick to. Some may be entirely on federal refuge land, and some may live entirely in one of the urbanized parts of the island.
You can rent cars and jeeps at one of a couple of auto rental businesses near the small airport. (Jeeps recommended especially for exploring the dirt roads of the wildlife refuge). Drive VERY carefully. The island speed limit is 35 on the main roads, and 10-15 on the town and beach roads. Horses often graze along the mowed roadsides, and they can appear around any corner, even in the middle of the road. There are also many free-roaming chickens and dogs who likewise deserve careful consideration while driving.
(The information on these herds generously provided by Jen Britton Photography)