AWHC Launches as Independent Non-Profit Organization

On January 4, 2016, the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) and Return to Freedom announced the launch of AWHC as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to protect America's wild horses and burros.

American Wild Horse Conservation was established in 2004 by Return to Freedom to provide a unified voice and platform for advocating for wild horses and burros. By 2006, it had become one of the most effective grassroots movements in the nation. By 2010, the campaign was endorsed by a coalition of over 45 horseadvocacy, animal welfare, conservation, and public interest organizations.

Initially, AWHC operated as an independent project of Return to Freedom, which served as its fiscal sponsor. Over the past six years, the Campaign has garnered significant support, allowing it to become a stand-alone organization with shared goals for wild horse preservation.

Neda DeMayo, founder of Return to Freedom and AWHC, and Virginie Parant, Esq., AWHC co-founder, will join the new AWHC Board of Directors. The two organizations will continue to collaborate to secure increased protections for wild horses and burros in the coming years.