Arizona’s Salt River wild horses are now legally protected under bill 2340 which passed the Arizona house in a 53-3 vote. This achievement is the result of a hard-fought battle by wild horse advocates and Arizona residents who rallied around the herd last summer when the U.S. Forest Service announced a round up of the iconic horses.

The bill establishes the Salt River horses are not stray livestock and criminalizes the killing or harassment of these horses. They will be managed through a cooperative agreement between federal, state and local authorities and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group.

“This is a historic day for horse advocates, the Salt River wild horses and for the public, which would not stand for the removal and disposal of this herd that is so historically and economically significant to the State of Arizona, ” said Simone Netherlands, president of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group. “We are so proud of our legislators for listening to the voice of the people and standing firm for protection of these irreplaceable Arizona treasures.”

For more information visit the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group’s website here.