The herd's fourth foal of the year, filly N2BHS-JQ (pictured), was born in mid-November to N2BHS-J (also known as Shasta). | Photo: National Park Service/Lisa Giris

The National Park Service has completed its November 2018 population census of the Assateague wild horses.

The total population of the Maryland herd is currently at 78 horses, including 21 stallions and 57 mares. Two aged mares, N6BKO (“Samantha”) and M17JP (“Sierra”) are missing and presumed dead. The fourth foal of the year, filly N2BHS-JQ, was born in mid-November to N2BHS-J (“Shasta”).

The National Park Service completes a full census of the horse population in Maryland six times per year, in February, March, May, July, September, and November. Managed as a wildlife population, the Assateague horses are free to roam over approximately 27 miles of the barrier island and can be difficult to find at times