Marsh tackys are a rare breed of colonial Spanish horse that is only found in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. They were brought here in the 1500s by Spanish explorers, but when those expeditions failed, they were left here and adapted to living in the salt marsh estuary that surrounds the islands of Beaufort County. These adaptations are seen in their thick skin and solid hooves that allow them to traverse a variety of landscapes and fend off gnats and mosquitoes found in the depths of the maritime forest. There are approximately 400 tackys left in South Carolina and the small herd that lives on Horse Island can sometimes be seen from a distance from our Basecamp on St Helena.
Want to see these horses yourself? Rent a kayak or paddleboard to plan your own expedition today! If you’d like a little more guidance, check out our 2-hour St Helena Kayak Safari that starts on May 1.