(CNN) -- There is, perhaps, no greater living symbol of the untamed, pioneer spirit of the American West than the wild mustang. In the Great Basin of the United States -- a vast, empty, desert plain that stretches across most of Nevada and includes parts of Utah, Idaho, Oregon and California -- it's estimated that 40,000 mustangs still roam free. They're regarded by many as part of the national heritage and a treasure for people the world over to enjoy. "They're sensual," says Madeleine Pickens, owner of Nevada's new Mustang Monument: Wild Horse Eco Resort. "When you come across a wild bunch, it's euphoria."
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An estimated 40,000 mustangs still roam free in the Great Basin of the United States
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Mustang Monument: Wild Horse Eco Resort is a sanctuary for up to 1,000 wild horses
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Visitors can connect with mustangs at the resort, which also offers hiking, abseiling and gambling
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But protection policies aren't popular with everyone who lives and works in the @placeholder.