Do you have a loved one who has always wished for a pony at Christmas? On Ocracoke Island, that wish is easier to grant than you might think.
Outer Banks Forever, the nonprofit partner of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, has launched its 2025 Adopt a Pony for the Holidays campaign, offering a symbolic way to support the beloved Ocracoke pony herd while giving a memorable gift to friends and family.
The Ocracoke ponies trace their origins to shipwrecks from the 1500s and 1600s, when small, stocky Spanish horses arrived on the island’s shores. Over time, some ponies were domesticated by early settlers, while others roamed freely across the island’s open beaches. The National Park Service assumed their care in the 1960s, and today the herd remains one of Ocracoke’s most recognizable residents.
This holiday season, supporters can choose to “adopt” one of the herd’s 11 distinctive ponies or make a general adoption supporting the entire group. Each symbolic adoption includes a photo of the selected pony or the herd, along with an official adoption certificate.
To ensure gifts arrive before Christmas, Outer Banks Forever has set two deadlines:
- Monday, December 8 for adoptions that will be mailed.
- Friday, December 19 for digital adoptions that will be delivered by email.
All proceeds directly support the daily feeding, veterinary care, and long-term stewardship of the Ocracoke ponies.
A symbolic adoption requires a minimum $50 donation—significantly less space, expense, and cleanup than surprising someone with a real pony on Christmas morning—and offers a meaningful way to contribute to the preservation of one of Ocracoke’s living landmarks.
More information about the 2025 Adopt A Pony program is available at https://obxforever.org/adoptapony/
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