Merlin is a striking blue roan stallion that was captured and removed from his home in the Apache National Forest in Northern Arizona in November 2023.

Merlin, along with more than 50 other captured wild horses from the Alpine region of the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, ended up at an auction in Bowie, Texas, where thousands of horses are purchased by kill buyers and sent to Mexico for slaughter. Return to Freedom, in an effort to keep as many family bands intact, rescued Merlin along with 45 members of the Alpine herd, some of which were his family band.

Learn more about RTF’s Alpine Rescue Effort.