Second Floor

The 1971 Act

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed, unanimously, through Congress and signed by former President Nixon on December 15, 1971. It became Public Law 92-195, which established federal jurisdiction within designated territories on both Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands to protect wild horses and burros.

The declaration of policy rang through the community and Americans felt that wild horses and burros would be protected and preserved as a priority set in law for federal land managers.

“Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands.”

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