American Wild Horse Conservation Unveils Spirit of Nevada Billboards

RENO, NV (May 9, 2023) —Today, theAmerican Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign)(AWHC) unveiled a new Spirit of Nevada billboard campaign celebrating the wild mustang’s emblematic status in Nevada.

The billboards—which flank the US 395 corridor between Reno and Carson City—are part of the organization’s support ofSB90,legislationthat would officially designate the wild mustang as Nevada’s state horse. It is similar tolegislationpassed in previous years to designateother state emblemssuch as the state bird (Bluebird), reptile (Desert Tortoise), insect (Vivid Dancer Damselfly), flower (Sagebrush), rock (Sandstone), and fish (Lahontan Cutthroat Trout).

“Wildmustangsare intrinsically tied to the history and culture of our state,” said Tracy Wilson, AWHC’s Nevada State Director. “They truly embody the spirit of Nevada because much like Nevadans, these incredible animals are tough, tenacious, independent, and freedom-loving.”

Mustangsin the Silver State are an attraction for tourists from throughout the world. In fact,Smithsonian Magazinenamed the state as one of the best places to see wild horses, and Travel Nevada, the official state tourism site, gives wildmustangsan “honorable mention” under state emblems. Polling shows that86 percent of Nevadansagree that mustangs should be considered important symbols for the state.

In April, the bi-partisan piece oflegislationpassed theSenateCommittee on Natural Resources and the fullSenateand is now with the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs, before it heads to be heard by the full Assembly.

The new billboard features an image by local photographerJohn T. Humphreyof a Nevada stallion known as Onyx, who runs wild and free on public lands outside of Gardnerville, Nevada.

###

About the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign)

TheAmerican Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign)(AWHC) is the nation's leading wild horse protection organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. In addition to advocating for the protection and preservation of America's wild herds, AWHC implements the largest wild horse fertility control program in the world through a partnership with the State of Nevada for wild horses that live in the Virginia Range near Reno.