AMERICA'S WILD HORSES & BURROS ARE LIVING CULTURAL ICONS
Additional Information
A Call to President Trump and the United States Congress to designate
America’s Wild Horses and Burros to be recognized and designated as Living Cultural Icons, in connection with the White House 250 (America’s 250th anniversary) celebrations:
Proposal for Recognizing America’s Wild Horses and Burros as Living Cultural Icons During the White House 250 Commemoration
Submitted to: The White House 250 Commission
Submitted by: CELEBRATE AMERICA'S LIVING LEGENDS - a bipartisan coalition of Americans
June 1, 2025
Executive Summary
In recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, we propose that America’s wild horses and burros be formally recognized and designated as Living Cultural Icons. These animals are living symbols of America's frontier heritage, resilience, and pioneering spirit. Their presence on the landscape connects past generations with the present, embodying the diversity and complexity of America’s development.
We urge the White House 250 Commission to include the designation of wild horses and burros as a meaningful tribute to the animals' vital role in America’s history, culture, and identity.
Background
Wild Horses and Burros, which evolved in North America and are believed to have gone extinct herer, but returned as descendants of domesticated animals brought to the Americas by early explorers and settlers, have roamed the open ranges of the United States for centuries.
They were indispensable in the development of agriculture, ranching, mining, transportation, and military campaigns. From Native American horse cultures to pioneers, cowboys, and cavalrymen, horses and burros shaped—and were shaped by—the American experience.
These animals are now protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which recognizes them as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.”
Yet despite their iconic status, that Act signed by President Nixon, was gutted by Sen. Conrad Burns in a "midnight rider" in a hastily passed omnibus bill. Because of this, Wild Horses and Burros have lost many of their Protections and more than half of the American lands they were granted in 1971.
They are brutally rounded up and often end up terrified in auction yards, kill pens, and despicable slaughterhouses.
Since that 1971 Act, the Historic and Present Contributions of America's Wild Horses and Burros have been unceremoniously dismissed in national commemorations and at risk of removal from public lands.
The White House 250 offers a rare and timely opportunity for President Trump and the United States Congress to correct this oversight by designating America's Wild Horses and Burros as Living Cultural Icons, restore and reaffirm their protections and land, and putting their management under a new government agency, one that is dedicated to humane oversight of animals rather than the management of land.
Rationale for Designation
1. Historic Contribution
• Wild horses and Burros, evolved in North America where they supposedly went extinct, and returned to North America as direct descendants of animals that helped build the nation—plowing fields, carrying goods and mail, serving in wars, and facilitating western expansion.
• Burros, in particular, were instrumental in mining operations and settlement of the American Southwest.
2. Cultural Significance
• Wild horses are central to the imagery of the American West and the American spirit—symbols of freedom, endurance, and self-reliance.
• Indigenous nations developed rich equestrian cultures following the reintroduction of the horse to North America. It changed their ways of life, allowing them to be mobile, succeed at trade and war and hunting.
• Wils Horses and Burros appear prominently in American art, film, literature, and folklore.
3. Living Link to the Past
• America's Wild Horses and Burros are not relics in a museum; they are living threads of American history. Observing them with their families in their natural environment, wild and free, is a direct connection to America's past.
• The continued presence of America's Wild Horses and Burros on public lands is a form of Historic Preservation in motion.
4. Public Support
• Surveys consistently show that a majority of Americans value wild horses and burros and support their protection.
• A symbolic designation would align with public sentiment and deepen civic pride during the 250th anniversary celebrations.
Proposed Actions
We respectfully request that the White House 250 Commission:
1. Designate America’s wild horses and burros as “Living Cultural Icons” as part of the official 250th anniversary observance.
2. Encourage national parks, museums, and public institutions to feature the history and significance of wild horses and burros in their America 250 programming.
3. Promote educational and cultural initiatives that tell the story of these animals’ roles in U.S. history, especially in schools and community events.
4. Support the preservation and protection of America's Wild Horses and Burros on public lands as Living Cultural Icons and Majestic Symbols and Partners in America’s glorious natural and cultural heritage.
Conclusion
Recognizing America's Wild Horses and Burros as Living Cultural Icons is a powerful way to honor the unsung companions of American pioneers, soldiers, workers, and indigenous communities.
As the nation reflects on and celebrates its 250-year journey, these animals offer a compelling symbol of freedom, strength, and survival. Their recognition would enrich the story of America—and ensure their legacy endures for generations to come.
President Trump, Senators and Congress members, please designate America's Wild Horses and Burros as Living Cultural Icons and grant them full protection and ensure they are celebrated, not just as part of our past, but as a living part of our future.
Thank you.
C
