The Eastern Island contains the only suitable harbour where fisherman could make landfall and was first settled by the Bath family in 1836.
[1] Family surnames of the Horse Islands included Andrews, Bath, Burton, Curtis, Greenham, Hynes, Lock, Normore, Rideout, Simms and Toms.
Most of the residents resettled in the community of La Scie, where they could find adequate housing, social services and employment.
Horse Islands became famous during the shooting of a Canadian movie, with financial backing from Paramount Pictures, The Viking, directed by Varick Frissell, a New York filmmaker.
On 15 March 1931, while the film crew were preparing to shoot background footage, the whole stern of Viking was blown off by an explosion.