16 U.S.C. § 1331
Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands.
16 U.S.C. § 1331
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 92-195, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 649, which enacted this chapter, is popularly known as the "Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act".
- public lands
- "public lands" means any lands administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management or by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Forest Service.2
- wild free-roaming horses and burros
- "wild free-roaming horses and burros" means all unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands of the United States;