We never know how even small, seemingly insignificant experiences can change a person’s life. 

As the first African American Keeper of a United States Life Saving Service Station, Captain Etheridge and his all-Black crew at the Pea Island Life Saving Station paved the way for generations of African American men and women in the United States Life Saving Service and the United States Coast Guard.

We’re asking you to join with us in saying THANK YOU to our amazing park rangers, staff, and volunteers for the incredible work they do every day to care for these special places!

Through our Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest program, you can symbolically adopt an active sea turtle nest on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Winnie, who recently turned seven, is the youngest member of the Ocracoke herd. (This photo is from her younger years!) She was born in 2018 to her parents, Sacajawea and Captain. She spends her time close to her mom and exploring her island home. The next time you visit the Ocracoke Pony Pens, come say hi!

Jobelle turned eight this year! She is the daughter of Ocracoke ponies Jitterbug and Rayo. She was named by the Ocracoke School students; “Jobelle” is the local name for the gaillardia flowers (commonly called “blanket flowers”) which are found throughout the Outer Banks!

Captain is a 12-year-old chestnut stallion who was named after the late Captain Marvin Howard, a local Ocracoke Island resident who founded the first — and only — mounted Boy Scout troop in the United States. The boy scouts were responsible for taming and caring for the wild pony herd in the 1950s.

Maya is a Paint mare who will turn 25 in just a few days! Born in 2000, she has four siblings in the herd and is known to be the tallest and most vocal pony in the Ocracoke herd!