Kosciuszko National Park wild horse management

The delicate alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems of Kosciuszko National Park face many threats, including pressures from introduced animals such as wild horses. Maintaining the balance between protecting the park and the heritage value of wild horses is a complex task.

Collapsed stream bank in Kosciuszko National Park showing damage caused by wild horses.

Kosciuszko National Park contains some of Australia’s most beautiful and unique natural landscapes, plants and animals. This includes the main alpine and sub-alpine area in New South Wales: the Snowy Mountains.

The wild horse population represents heritage links to high country pastoralism and the wild and remote alpine and sub-alpine landscapes. They are valued by many Australians.

Based on 2014 population estimates there are 6000 wild horses across the park. Scientific evidence suggests they are damaging the park's fragile alpine and sub-alpine environment. If the population is not carefully managed we risk unacceptable impacts to the environmental values of the park.

Finding a balance between protecting the heritage values of the wild horses and the environmental values of the park is challenging but not impossible.

Respectful engagement

Many individuals and groups across the community have strong, passionate views about the best ways to manage wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

Community input and informed and respectful debate is always welcome. Unfortunately, in the past, some people have expressed views and opinions on wild horses to NPWS staff in ways that are not respectful, productive or in line with acceptable community standards. A zero-tolerance approach will be taken to any interactions, correspondence, or phone calls that are considered harassing or threatening.

Comments, queries or requests for information about wild horse management should be directed to npws.wildhorses@environment.nsw.gov.au and a response will be provided as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.

Wild horse galloping across brown-coloured grass on Cooleman Plain, Kosciuszko National Park.

This 5-yearly survey is part of the ongoing Australian Alps National Parks Cooperative Management Program, which involves NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Parks Victoria. The aim of the survey is to produce an estimate of the wild horse population in the surveyed areas and changes in the population since the 2014 survey. The survey is critical to on-going management of wild horses by Parks agencies.

More information is available on the Australian Alps National Parks website.

The Minister for Energy and Environment has appointed members to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Community Advisory Panel and Wild Horse Scientific Advisory Panel. The panels will play an important role in advising on a draft wild horse heritage management plan under the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018.

More information

Community and scientific advisory panels members

For more information email npws.wildhorses@environment.nsw.gov.au

NPWS is undertaking a control program for wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park in spring 2019. The control program targets high-use visitor areas, including locations where there is a need to manage interactions between the public and wild horses to support safety objectives.

More information



The NSW Government passed the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which recognises and protects wild horse heritage values in Kosciuszko National Park and enables active management of the wild horse population to reduce their impact on the park’s fragile environment.

In accordance with the Act, a wild horse heritage plan of management will be developed to:

  • identify wild horses’ heritage values
  • specify how wild horses will be managed
  • identify zones where sustainable populations will be retained
  • identify how populations outside these zones will be controlled.

A community advisory panel and a scientific advisory panel will provide input to the plan, and community comment will be sought on the specific actions proposed in the plan. More updates on the new legislation, community engagement and future management of the wild horse population will be provided when available.