Ozarks (Rural)
Shannon County has free-roaming wild horses
Free-roaming horses near Eminence are a distinctive Shannon County river-corridor feature, but visitors should watch from a distance and follow NPS guidance.
Near Eminence, free-roaming horses are one of Shannon County’s memorable river-corridor sights. They graze in open glades and river bottoms around the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Seeing them can be a real “only here” moment on a float trip or back-road drive.
For visitors, the important thing is expectation and respect. The horses are a real local feature, not a guaranteed attraction. They roam, and they are not fenced or fed for tourists.
Enjoy them from a distance. Do not approach or feed them, even if they seem calm near a road or field. Give them room the same way you would around any large animal. The National Park Service is the source for the herd’s status and the rules that protect it.
Where to see it
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways Wild Horses
Use NPS for the official background on the horses and how they are managed.
- See the Wild Horses
Check NPS visit guidance before looking for the horses along the riverways.
References
More from Shannon County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: June 15, 2026.