Feral vs. wild

There's nothing more romantic than seeing a band of wild horses galloping across a scenic beach, but wait — are they really wild?

Probably not. The only true "wild horse" is the Przewalski's horse of Mongolia. All the other free-roaming horse and pony subspecies belonging to Equus ferus are feral or semi-feral equines that have descended from a line of domesticated horses.

Of course, just because they're not technically "wild" doesn't mean they aren't wildlife. Feral horses should be treated with as much caution and respect as any other wild creature.

Here's a look at just a few of the most well-known feral horse and pony populations around the world.