New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson wants his state to be the first to establish a state-owned sanctuary for wild horses.

On Sept. 16 Richardson announced he would use $2.8 million in funds awarded to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to purchase the 12,142-acre Ortiz Mountain Ranch from the Nature Conservancy, an international land conservation organization, and a private owner. The purchase would expand the Cerrillos Hills State Park to create the sanctuary.

The New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources would maintain the sanctuary, said department spokesperson Jodi Porter. A nonprofit agency would likely manage horses that would reside there.

"Establishing the sanctuary is a multi-step process," Porter said. "First we have to acquire the land, then it will take between 12 and 16 months to create a management plan