The beautiful state of New Mexico is fortunate to have several federally-protected wild horse populations left in the state.  The largest and best known mustang herd ranges in northern New Mexico between the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS's) Jicarilla Wild Horse Territory (WHT) in the Carson National Forest and the Carracas Mesa Herd Management  Area (HMA), managed by the BLM. A second herd lives on BLM land in eastern New Mexico, in the Border Atravesado HMA, where mountain lions help keep the small population check. Two additional populations live in the USFS Caja del Rio and Jarita Mesa Wild Horse Territories. 

In total, federally-protected wild horses live on less than one percent of federal land in New Mexico.