From 1971 until the BLM took over the adoption program in 1976, Wild Horse Organized Assistance (WHOA) under the direction of Wild Horse Annie, International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros under the direction of Ms. Helen Reilly and NOAH under the direction of Ron Zaidlich, DVM, adopted out approximately 10,000 wild horses.

Horses and burros rounded up on lands not protected by the law were adopted by hands-on groups such as the LIFE Foundation under the direction of Ms. Barbara Eustis-Cross.

In 1978, with the passage of the Public Rangelands Improvement Act (PL95-154), the U.S. government was permitted to transfer ownership of up to four animals each year to individual adopters who had given the animals one year of humane care and treatment.