How did horses get to North Carolina?

The first horses in North Carolina were brought by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. These horses were of the Barb and Andalusian breeds, and they were used for transportation and warfare. In the 17th and 18th centuries, English colonists brought additional horses to North Carolina, including Thoroughbreds and American Quarter Horses. These horses were used for a variety of purposes, including farming, racing, and transportation. Today, there are an estimated 200,000 horses in North Carolina, making it one of the top horse-producing states in the United States.