Map of Wild Horse Herds in US As Trump Admin Cracks Down on Mustangs
Summary
The Trump administration has increased the removal and sale of wild horses from public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), especially in Nevada, which has the largest wild horse population in the U.S. Animal-welfare groups are concerned that many horses sold through government programs might eventually be slaughtered, and they criticize the government for not using more fertility control methods to manage herds.Key Facts
- There are more than 60,000 wild horses living on public lands in 10 Western U.S. states.
- Nevada has the largest wild horse population, with about 37,426 horses.
- The BLM oversees wild horse management on 25.5 million acres of public land.
- The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 protects these horses as symbols of the West and requires their humane treatment.
- Wild horse populations can grow quickly without natural predators, leading to damage to the land.
- The Trump administration increased government sales of wild horses, with about 3,700 sold in 2025, more than double the previous year.
- Animal-welfare groups argue that sales and roundups cause harm and that fertility control should be used more.
- Horses sold by the government lose some legal protections and may be at risk of slaughter after being resold.
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