Horses are not native to  Cumberland Island.
Popular myth states they were brought to the island by the Spanish in the 16th century.
However, it is believed that these first horses more than likely did not survive due to the lack of visits made by the Spanish and the local Native Americans on the island finding them of little practical use.
In the 18th century, the English began settling Cumberland Island.
The horses seen there today are most likely descendants of horses brought by these settlers, as this is when a large majority of the horses began to roam freely and revert to their natural state, becoming feral.
 During the 19th century, efforts were made to capture and make use of the horses.
 The first attempts were made by the island plantation owner Robert Stafford, who allowed visitors to purchase and capture the horses, which Stafford called "marsh tackies," for their own personal use.
The horses were next used as cavalry animals during the American Civil War.
After the war, records suggest that people from Jekyll Island captured some of the horses for horse meat.
Around 1881, Thomas M. Carnegie bought two plantations on the island and introduced  Tennessee Walking Horses, Paso Finos, and Arabians into the feral horse population in an attempt to improve the animals.
 Carnegie received a small amount of income from the buying and selling of these animals.
Later, many island residents began introducing additional breeds into the herds on the island, further diversifying the bands of horses.
In 1921, a large number of horses were brought onto the island from Globe, Arizona, all of which had been running wild on western rangeland.

The National Park Service (NPS) acquired the island in 1972 and declared it the Cumberland Island National Seashore.
Since then, few new horses have been introduced to the island, though four Arabians were introduced in the early 1990s in the hopes of diversifying and bettering the existing population.
Since 1981, the NPS has been monitoring the horses and tracking their impact on the environment.
In 1991, an outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis killed about 40 horses, or approximately 18% of the herd.
The population on Cumberland Island is one of seven feral horse herds on US barrier islands.
Horses are not native to  Cumberland Island. Popular myth states they were brought to the island by the Spanish in the 16th century. However, it is believed that these first horses more than likely did not survive due to the lack of visits made by the Spanish and the local Native Americans on the island finding them of little practical use. In the 18th century, the English began settling Cumberland Island. The horses seen there today are most likely descendants of horses brought by these settlers, as this is when a large majority of the horses began to roam freely and revert to their natural state, becoming feral.  During the 19th century, efforts were made to capture and make use of the horses.  The first attempts were made by the island plantation owner Robert Stafford, who allowed visitors to purchase and capture the horses, which Stafford called "marsh tackies," for their own personal use. The horses were next used as cavalry animals during the American Civil War. After the war, records suggest that people from Jekyll Island captured some of the horses for horse meat. Around 1881, Thomas M. Carnegie bought two plantations on the island and introduced  Tennessee Walking Horses, Paso Finos, and Arabians into the feral horse population in an attempt to improve the animals.  Carnegie received a small amount of income from the buying and selling of these animals. Later, many island residents began introducing additional breeds into the herds on the island, further diversifying the bands of horses. In 1921, a large number of horses were brought onto the island from Globe, Arizona, all of which had been running wild on western rangeland.
The National Park Service (NPS) acquired the island in 1972 and declared it the Cumberland Island National Seashore. Since then, few new horses have been introduced to the island, though four Arabians were introduced in the early 1990s in the hopes of diversifying and bettering the existing population. Since 1981, the NPS has been monitoring the horses and tracking their impact on the environment. In 1991, an outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis killed about 40 horses, or approximately 18% of the herd. The population on Cumberland Island is one of seven feral horse herds on US barrier islands.
Cumberland Island horse