What Is Buck Buck Bronco? Inside the Ford Community’s Favorite Trailside Tradition

You come back to your modified Ford Bronco after grabbing a cup of black coffee, and there’s a tiny plastic horse sitting on the driver’s door handle. Huh? 

For a second, you’re confused, but then you notice the small tag attached to this tiny equine. 

“Congratulations. You just got bucked!”

What started as one Bronco owner’s simple idea to spread a little positivity has grown into one of the Bronco enthusiast community’s favorite traditions. Across the country, Bronco owners keep miniature horses in their glovebox or center console, waiting for the perfect opportunity to surprise another owner. It’s a small gesture, but one that has helped build connections between complete strangers who share a passion for one of America’s most iconic off-road SUVs.

Known as Buck Buck Bronco, the tradition has become Ford’s answer to Duck Duck Jeep. While the toy may be different, the spirit is exactly the same: celebrate the community, brighten someone’s day, and encourage the next Bronco owner to pay it forward.

Here’s how Buck Buck Bronco started, why it’s become so popular, and how the Bronco itself has gone from a long-lost legend to Jeep Wrangler’s biggest rival.

At its core, Buck Buck Bronco is remarkably simple, but also super fun. 

When Bronco owners spot another Bronco parked at a trailhead, campground, shopping center, or even the office, they leave behind a miniature toy horse. Most horses include a small tag identifying the “Bucker” and inviting the recipient to continue the tradition by bucking another Bronco in their daily life. 

There are no rules, memberships, or prizes, and the reward is simply making someone smile.

Many owners say finding their first buck feels like joining a club they didn’t even know existed. Others have shared stories about discovering one after a difficult day, turning an ordinary parking lot into a memorable moment they’ll never forget.

Ford’s new Bronco oozes cool factor and retro kitsch, so this old-fashioned, analog game just makes perfect sense. 

Buck Buck Bronco can be traced back to Melissa Shields Patterson, a lifelong Ford enthusiast who reserved a Bronco Badlands Sasquatch as soon as Ford announced the model’s return.

While waiting for her Bronco to arrive, Patterson admired the camaraderie she’d seen in the Jeep community through Duck Duck Jeep. Rather than simply copying the idea, she contacted Duck Duck Jeep founder Allison Parliament to ask whether creating a Bronco version would be welcome or would step on toes. 

Luckily for Melissa, Allison thought it was a great idea. In May 2021, Patterson launched the Buck Buck Bronco Facebook group, months before she even took delivery of her own Bronco.

What began as a handful of enthusiasts quickly snowballed into a nationwide movement with tens of thousands of members sharing photos, stories, and creative custom buck tags. 

Bronco owners are an enthusiastic bunch, and people genuinely love getting bucked. While the horse is a token, it really isn’t about collecting toy horses; it’s all about the surprise.

One owner discovers a horse tucked beneath the windshield wiper after a long hike. Another finds one waiting outside the grocery store at 5 PM after a brutal work day. Owners with young kids often say their children get just as excited about leaving bucks on other Broncos as they do riding in the vehicle itself.

In a hobby that’s often centered around expensive modifications and weekend adventures, Buck Buck Bronco reminds everyone that sometimes the smallest gestures leave the biggest impression.

Buck Buck Bronco wouldn’t exist without Duck Duck Jeep.

The original tradition began in 2020 when Allison Parliament started placing rubber ducks on Jeeps after a chance encounter with another driver. Tragically, the Jeep community lost Allison in 2024, but her legacy of spirited enthusiasm lives on in the hearts and minds of Jeep owners everywhere. 

Her simple act of kindness spread throughout the Jeep community and eventually became an international phenomenon. Rather than creating rivalry between Jeep and Bronco owners, Buck Buck Bronco has largely expanded on that same spirit.

Duck Duck Jeep may have started it all, but it didn’t take long for other enthusiast communities to create traditions of their own.

• Buck Buck Bronco – The Ford Bronco community’s take on the trend, using miniature toy horses to surprise fellow Bronco owners. 

• Moo Moo Subaru – Subaru owners embraced toy cows, creating another lighthearted way to connect with fellow Subie enthusiasts. 

• Yoda Yoda Toyota – Toyota owners put a Star Wars twist on the idea by leaving miniature Grogu or Baby Yoda 

Getting started doesn’t require fancy equipment, mods, or travel to off-the-beaten-path trails. 

All you have to do is pick up a pack of miniature toy horses, toss a few in your glovebox, and keep an eye out for Broncos wherever you go. Most owners leave the horse somewhere obvious, such as a door handle, mirror, cowl, or windshield, along with a small tag explaining the tradition. Many also include a QR code linking back to the Buck Buck Bronco community so first-time recipients can learn more.

Ford introduced the original Bronco for the 1966 model year as a compact four-wheel-drive built to challenge the Jeep CJ-5 and International Scout. 

Rugged, simple, and highly capable, it quickly earned a reputation as one of America’s most respected off-road vehicles. Over the next four generations, the Bronco grew into a larger full-size SUV before production ended after the 1996 model year.

Then it disappeared. For 25 long years.

When Ford finally revived the Bronco for 2021, expectations couldn’t have been higher, and fortunately, the new Bronco delivered on all fronts. With removable doors, removable roof panels, advanced terrain management systems, available locking differentials, and both two- and four-door configurations, it wasn’t just inspired by the original. It was engineered to compete directly with the Wrangler once again.

Today, the Bronco family has expanded even further to include the adventure-ready Bronco Sport, giving buyers another way to experience Ford’s off-road heritage while functioning as a perfectly handy urban SUV.

1966 – Ford introduces the original Bronco as a compact off-roader built to rival the Jeep CJ-5 and International Scout. 

1978–1996 – The Bronco grows into a full-size SUV across four additional generations. The fifth-generation model becomes permanently linked to the infamous 1994 O.J. Simpson police chase before production ends after the 1996 model year, making way for the Ford Expedition. 

2021 – After a 25-year hiatus, the sixth-generation Bronco returns with removable doors and roof panels, advanced off-road technology, and, for the first time, a practical four-door model designed to compete head-to-head with the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 

2025–2026 – The Bronco records its best sales year yet in 2025 before closing the gap on the Wrangler throughout 2026, including its first monthly sales victory over its longtime rival.

When the sixth-generation Bronco launched, everyone expected comparisons to the Jeep Wrangler. Few people realized just how quickly Ford would catch up after being out of the game for 25+ years. 

Following a record-setting 2025, the Bronco entered 2026 with strong momentum. Although overall sales were down slightly year over year, Ford reported that the Bronco outsold the Jeep Wrangler during the second quarter, underscoring just how close the competition has become.

In the off-road space, competition drives innovation, and both of these off-road-focused SUVs continue to improve because of this intense competition. Plus, with the new 4Runner and the upcoming Xterra ready to drop, these stalwarts need to stay on their game. 

Whether your Bronco spends weekends crawling over rocks, exploring forest service roads, or simply turning heads around town, protecting it from mud, gravel, and everyday wear helps it stay looking its best.

RealTruck is proud to offer a full lineup of products built specifically for the Ford Bronco, including custom-fit floor liners, rugged fender flares, cargo protection, and other accessories designed for life on and off the pavement.

Buck Buck Bronco is one of those ideas that makes you appreciate the enthusiast community a little more. Nobody has to do it. There’s no trophy, no leaderboard, and no expectation that you’ll ever meet the person whose day you just made. It’s simply Bronco owners recognizing other Bronco owners in a way that feels genuine.

Whether your Bronco is bone stock or built for rock crawling, you’re part of a community that genuinely enjoys seeing other buckin’ Broncos out in the wild. 

Is Buck Buck Bronco Free to Join?

Yes. There are no membership fees or official registration requirements. Simply buy a few miniature toy horses and leave one on another Bronco whenever you want to participate.

Do I Need to Own a Bronco to Participate?

The tradition centers on Ford Bronco owners, but anyone can purchase toy horses and spread a little kindness. Most participants both own a Bronco and leave bucks for fellow Bronco enthusiasts.

Where Do I Buy the Horses?

Miniature horses are easy to find online and at many local retailers. Amazon, Walmart, craft stores, and party supply stores often sell them in multi-packs, making it easy to keep a handful in your glovebox or center console. Many Buck Buck Bronco participants also create custom tags to attach to each horse, adding a personal touch before leaving one for the next Bronco owner.