The Grazing Horses of Assateague Island are an introduced species characterizing this Barrier island, which are typically long spits of land that play an important role in protecting coastlines from the worst wind and weather coming off the ocean. Assateague’s rich salt marsh ecosystem provides habitat for diverse wildlife, and on the dune side facing the open sea, native plants help resist erosion. The grazing of the horse herd was reducing the abundance of species; without sufficient grasses to stabilize the dunes, the island would be at risk of being washed away by the waves. Also, the patterns of the horses were altering plant and animal communities, allowing invasive plants to take hold and disrupting natural ecological processes and the nesting of many bird species. CPSG joined stakeholders, and after deliberation and competing goals for managing the island, the group agreed on a population target of 80-100 horses to protect the plant communities in addition to the herd’s genetic health.