Horse-drawn carriages could disappear from New York City after Mayor Zohran Mamdani agreed to support legislation ending an industry that has operated around Central Park for more than 160 years. The proposal, backed by City Council Speaker Julie Menin, would make it illegal to operate horse-drawn carriages beginning in June 2028, according to a report by Politico. If approved, it would mark the biggest breakthrough yet in a long-running effort to ban one of New York's most recognizable tourist attractions.
Mamdani confirmed his support for the proposal in a post on X Tuesday, writing: "The horse carriage industry is coming to an end in New York City." He added that his administration would "make sure workers and owners are protected, and the horses are safe." The move represents a major victory for animal welfare advocates, who have spent years arguing that horses should no longer be used to pull tourists through one of the world's busiest urban environments. Opponents, including carriage drivers and labor groups, say the industry is heavily regulated and remains an important part of the city's history, economy and cultural identity. Transport Workers Union Local 264, which represents carriage drivers, has been among the most vocal opponents of previous efforts to ban the industry.
Newsweek has reached out to the union for comment. Julie Cappiello, executive director of Voters For Animal Rights, welcomed the agreement. "I have worked on this issue for nearly 15 years, and I am thrilled that we now have a path forward that protects horses while ensuring a fair and just transition for the workers in this industry," she told Newsweek.
"New York City's crowded, high-traffic streets are no place for horses, and they have not been for a long time," Cappiello added. The latest effort gained momentum following a series of high-profile incidents involving carriage horses and passengers. In June, a 16-year-old carriage horse named Deniz collapsed and died while pulling a carriage in Central Park.
Images and video of the incident quickly spread online, prompting renewed criticism from animal welfare advocates and fresh calls to phase out horse-drawn rides. A subsequent necropsy conducted through Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine found Deniz died after ingesting Japanese yew, a highly toxic ornamental plant. While the findings sparked debate about how the poisoning occurred, the horse's death intensified scrutiny of the industry.
Days later, 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan suffered fatal injuries during a horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park. Officials and union representatives said a horse bolted, causing a carriage to overturn. Mahajan later died in a Manhattan hospital.
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