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The Missouri wild horses are protected under the Ozark Wild Horses Protection Act, originally introduced as H.R. 238 and enacted through Section 803(b) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, Public Law 104-333.
Federal Protection of Missouri’s Wild Horses
Federal protection for Missouri’s wild horses began with H.R. 238, the Ozark Wild Horses Protection Act, introduced in Congress on January 4, 1995.[1] The bill’s protective provisions were later enacted through Section 803(b) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, Public Law 104-333, signed into law on November 12, 1996.[2]
The enacted law requires the Secretary of the Interior to allow free-roaming horses to remain within Ozark National Scenic Riverways. It also requires an agreement with the Missouri Wild Horse League—or another qualified nonprofit organization—to manage the horses and requires permits for adequate pastures to support the historic herd.[2]
The law limits removal of the horses from federal lands except under specific circumstances, including failure of the managing organization to meet its agreement, a herd population above 50, or an emergency involving public health and safety.[2]
The National Park Service summarizes the result plainly: in 1996, federal law finalized protections for the free-roaming horses within Ozark National Scenic Riverways.[3]
[1] U.S. Congress. H.R. 238—Ozark Wild Horses Protection Act, 104th Congress, introduced January 4, 1995.
https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-104hr238ih
[2] U.S. Congress. Public Law 104-333, Section 803(b), Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, enacted November 12, 1996.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-104publ333/html/PLAW-104publ333.htm
[3] National Park Service. Wild Horses—Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/wild-horses.htm
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE HORSES COULD BE LEGALLY REMOVED IF ANY OF THE CONDITIONS ARE VIOLATED IN THE BILL.
Federal law sharply limits when the free-roaming horses may be removed from federal land within Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Under Section 803(b) of Public Law 104-333, the Secretary of the Interior may not remove the horses, assist with their removal, or permit another party to remove them unless one of the following conditions exists:[1]
1. The managing organization substantially fails to meet its agreement
The nonprofit organization responsible for managing the horses must substantially fail to meet the terms of its agreement with the federal government.
Before removal can occur under this condition, the organization must receive notice of the alleged failure and be given 90 days to respond.
2. The herd population exceeds 50 horses
The law allows removal when the free-roaming horse population rises above 50.
This provision establishes a population-management threshold. It does not give the government unrestricted authority to remove the herd whenever it chooses.
3. An emergency or public-safety concern exists
Removal may also occur when there is an emergency or a threat involving public health and safety.
The law states that these circumstances must be defined within the formal management agreement. This means that inconvenience, ordinary disagreement, or the simple use of the word “feral” does not automatically justify removal.
What the Law Does Not Permit
The horses cannot legally be removed from federal land simply because:
- Someone considers them unwanted or inconvenient.
- They are described as “feral.”
- They temporarily leave a grazing area.
- A management agency prefers a different use for the land.
- They cause ordinary property damage.
The law specifically protects the continued presence of the free-roaming horses within Ozark National Scenic Riverways and limits removal to the three conditions described above.
[1] U.S. Congress. Public Law 104-333, Section 803(b), Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, enacted November 12, 1996.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-104publ333/html/PLAW-104publ333.htm
About the Word “Feral”
“Feral” is an ancestry classification. It is not a judgment on these horses’ value, their right to exist, or our responsibility to protect them.
Federal law does not treat Missouri’s wild horses as abandoned livestock that can simply be removed. Congress calls them “free-roaming horses,” directs the Secretary of the Interior to allow them to remain within Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and requires permits for adequate pasture to support the historic herd.[1]
The National Park Service acknowledges that the horses may have descended from domesticated animals. It also states that, regardless of the title used, these horses are wild in nature, protected by Congress, and managed with a hands-off approach whenever possible.[2]
Using the word “feral” to dismiss these horses is not a serious argument. It is using a label as a substitute for facts. These horses have lived wild and free-roaming in the Ozarks for generations. They are part of the region’s history and cultural landscape, and their continued presence is protected by federal law.
Call them wild, free-roaming, or feral. The label does not erase their history, diminish their value, or excuse a failure to protect them and properly maintain the habitat they depend upon.
The National Park Service explains that “feral” means a horse or its ancestors were once domesticated. It is an ancestry classification—not a judgment about the animal’s worth.[3]
[1] United States Congress. Public Law 104-333, Section 803(b): Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The law requires that free-roaming horses be allowed within the Riverways and provides for adequate pasture and herd management.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-104publ333/html/PLAW-104publ333.htm
[2] National Park Service. Wild Horses—Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/wild-horses.htm
[3] National Park Service. Frequently Asked Questions—Horses, Cape Lookout National Seashore.
https://www.nps.gov/calo/learn/nature/horse-faqs.htm
The Missouri Wild Horse League works with the National Park Service to capture horses when the herd exceeds 50. The captured horses are taken into care and evaluated before being adopted by loving families for permanent homes.
“SEC. 7 (a) The Secretary, in accordance with this section, shall allow free-roaming horses in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Within 180 days after enactment of this section, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Missouri Wild Horse League or another qualified nonprofit entity to provide for the management of free-roaming horses. The agreement shall provide for cost-effective management of the horses and limit Federal expenditures to the costs of monitoring the agreement. The Secretary shall issue permits for adequate pastures to accommodate the historic population level of the free-roaming horse herd, which shall be not less than the number of horses in existence on the date of the enactment of this section nor more than 50.”
‘‘Sec. 7 (b) The Secretary shall not remove, assist in, or permit the removal of any free-roaming horses from Federal lands within the boundary of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways unless:
(1) the entity with whom the Secretary has entered into the agreement under subsection (a), following notice and a 90-day response period, fails to meet the terms and conditions of the agreement; or
(2) the number of free-roaming horses on Federal lands within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways exceeds 50; or
(3) in the case of an emergency or to protect public health and safety.
Get my best wild horse photos, field updates, foal news, and quiet stories by email.
You can follow me on Facebook where I share my latest photos and videos of the horses. You can also join my Wild Horses of Shannon County Facebook Group.
Wild Horse Info & Resources
[History of Missouri’s Wild Horses] – [Ozark Wild Horse Protection Act] – [Missouri Wild Horse League] – [Missouri Wild Horse Field Guide] – [Wild Horse Gallery]
