Learn more about “Wild Horse and Burro Program (BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program)”

The Wild Horse and Burro Program, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is designed to protect and manage wild horse and burro populations on public lands across the United States. Established under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the program aims to ensure the health of these iconic animals while balancing the needs of the land and other uses, such as livestock grazing. However, the program has faced criticism for its reliance on roundups and removals, which many advocates, including the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), argue are inhumane and ineffective. AWHC promotes humane management practices, such as fertility control, to maintain wild horse populations sustainably in their natural habitats.