The 2025 Pony Patrol Needs Your Help to Protect North Carolina’s Wild Horses – Here’s How to Apply

Applications Now Open for 2025 Pony Patrol in NC

The “Pony Patrol” may sound like a cute cartoon show, but it’s actually a serious – and competitive – volunteer position that puts you on the front lines of wildlife conservation.

This special team of volunteers are tasked with  protecting the wild horses that run free across North Carolina’s barrier islands.

You can apply as a volunteer until February 21, 2025, and here’s what you need to know about the process.

What is Pony Patrol?

The Pony Patrol is a volunteer program focused on protecting wild horses and educating visitors at North Carolina’s Shackleford Banks and Rachel Carson Reserve. 

These are operated through partnerships between national parks, coastal reserves, and conservation organizations.

The first batch of Pony Patrollers were dispatched in 2023 and continues to make a big difference. In 2024, Pony Patrol volunteers did 254 patrols and talked with over 3,800 visitors.

What do Pony Patrollers Do?

You’ll walk the beautiful shores of Shackleford Banks and Rachel Carson Reserve as a guardian of wild horse protection. 

During your 3-4 hour shifts, you’ll watch how people interact with horses, teach visitors to keep a safe distance, and share cool facts about the local horse herds. 

You’ll patrol beaches and trails in all kinds of weather, making sure visitors follow the rules about wildlife.

Another important task is to report any problems you see, help maintain facilities, and sometimes assist with basic horse care.

Assigned to Shackleford Banks and Rachel Carson Reserve

You’ll work on North Carolina’s beautiful coast, where Shackleford Banks and Rachel Carson Reserve give homes to special groups of wild horses. 

Shackleford Banks, part of Cape Lookout National Seashore, has over 110 horses with Spanish ancestors, while Rachel Carson Reserve protects about 35 wild horses brought there in the 1940s. 

You can only reach these barrier islands by boat or ferry. Each place runs differently: Shackleford teams up with the National Seashore and Foundation, while Rachel Carson follows Coastal Reserve rules.

Eligibility and Training Process

To join the 2025 Pony Patrol, you’ll need to meet strict requirements and complete thorough training to protect both visitors and wild horses. 

You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and able to work three shifts monthly from May through September. 

The program picks volunteers based on their skills, fitness, and schedule flexibility. You’ll need to provide personal information, tell about your experience, and agree to volunteer conditions.

Accepted applicants will go through the Volunteer Academy training. The program teaches you how to talk with visitors effectively, understand wild horse behavior, and follow safety rules.

P.S. It’s Physically Demanding

While you’ll love being a Pony Patrol volunteer, you should know it takes real physical strength. 

Volunteers typically spend 3-4 hours walking on soft sand while dealing with strong sun, high humidity, and constant wind. 

Expect to face challenges like mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies, plus the risks of getting too hot and dehydrated. 

You’ll often work in changing weather and salt spray, often without much shade. In short, Pony Patrol volunteers need to be both mentally and physically tough.

How to Apply

You can apply online through the Pony Patrol 2025 form at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality website.

Submit your application between January 21 and February 21, 2025. 

By the way, you need to decide whether you want to work at Rachel Carson Reserve and Shackleford Banks, since they have separate forms.

Interviews Start in Early March 2025

If you make the first cut for the 2025 Pony Patrol, you’ll get an interview invitation in early March. 

During your hour-long interview, you’ll show how well you communicate, what you know about wild horse protection, and your commitment to the program’s goals.