diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/effects.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/effects.go
index cc7406d7bc..e04997aca5 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/effects.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/effects.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type GetEffectsHandler struct {
 }
 
 func (handler GetEffectsHandler) GetResourcePage(w HeaderWriter, r *http.Request) ([]hal.Pageable, error) {
-	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r)
+	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r, DefaultTOID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers.go
index 579e1056ff..2575b13251 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stellar/go/services/horizon/internal/ledger"
 	hProblem "github.com/stellar/go/services/horizon/internal/render/problem"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/support/errors"
+	"github.com/stellar/go/support/ordered"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/support/render/problem"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/toid"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/xdr"
@@ -44,6 +45,8 @@ type Opt int
 const (
 	// DisableCursorValidation disables cursor validation in GetPageQuery
 	DisableCursorValidation Opt = iota
+	// DefaultTOID sets a default cursor value in GetPageQuery based on the ledger state
+	DefaultTOID Opt = iota
 )
 
 // HeaderWriter is an interface for setting HTTP response headers
@@ -182,10 +185,14 @@ func getLimit(r *http.Request, name string, def uint64, max uint64) (uint64, err
 // using the results from a call to GetPagingParams()
 func GetPageQuery(ledgerState *ledger.State, r *http.Request, opts ...Opt) (db2.PageQuery, error) {
 	disableCursorValidation := false
+	defaultTOID := false
 	for _, opt := range opts {
 		if opt == DisableCursorValidation {
 			disableCursorValidation = true
 		}
+		if opt == DefaultTOID {
+			defaultTOID = true
+		}
 	}
 
 	cursor, err := getCursor(ledgerState, r, ParamCursor)
@@ -214,6 +221,13 @@ func GetPageQuery(ledgerState *ledger.State, r *http.Request, opts ...Opt) (db2.
 
 		return db2.PageQuery{}, err
 	}
+	if cursor == "" && defaultTOID {
+		if pageQuery.Order == db2.OrderAscending {
+			pageQuery.Cursor = toid.AfterLedger(
+				ordered.Max(0, ledgerState.CurrentStatus().HistoryElder-1),
+			).String()
+		}
+	}
 
 	return pageQuery, nil
 }
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers_test.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers_test.go
index 445862c25e..05e840577e 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers_test.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/helpers_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -290,6 +291,63 @@ func TestGetPageQuery(t *testing.T) {
 	tt.Assert.Error(err)
 }
 
+func TestGetPageQueryCursorDefaultTOID(t *testing.T) {
+	ascReq := makeTestActionRequest("/foo-bar/blah?limit=2", testURLParams())
+	descReq := makeTestActionRequest("/foo-bar/blah?limit=2&order=desc", testURLParams())
+
+	ledgerState := &ledger.State{}
+	ledgerState.SetHorizonStatus(ledger.HorizonStatus{
+		HistoryLatest:         7000,
+		HistoryLatestClosedAt: time.Now(),
+		HistoryElder:          300,
+		ExpHistoryLatest:      7000,
+	})
+
+	pq, err := GetPageQuery(ledgerState, ascReq, DefaultTOID)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, toid.AfterLedger(299).String(), pq.Cursor)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint64(2), pq.Limit)
+	assert.Equal(t, "asc", pq.Order)
+
+	pq, err = GetPageQuery(ledgerState, descReq, DefaultTOID)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", pq.Cursor)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint64(2), pq.Limit)
+	assert.Equal(t, "desc", pq.Order)
+
+	pq, err = GetPageQuery(ledgerState, ascReq)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, pq.Cursor)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint64(2), pq.Limit)
+	assert.Equal(t, "asc", pq.Order)
+
+	pq, err = GetPageQuery(ledgerState, descReq)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, pq.Cursor)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", pq.Cursor)
+	assert.Equal(t, "desc", pq.Order)
+
+	ledgerState.SetHorizonStatus(ledger.HorizonStatus{
+		HistoryLatest:         7000,
+		HistoryLatestClosedAt: time.Now(),
+		HistoryElder:          0,
+		ExpHistoryLatest:      7000,
+	})
+
+	pq, err = GetPageQuery(ledgerState, ascReq, DefaultTOID)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, toid.AfterLedger(0).String(), pq.Cursor)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint64(2), pq.Limit)
+	assert.Equal(t, "asc", pq.Order)
+
+	pq, err = GetPageQuery(ledgerState, descReq, DefaultTOID)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", pq.Cursor)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint64(2), pq.Limit)
+	assert.Equal(t, "desc", pq.Order)
+
+}
+
 func TestGetString(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/ledger.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/ledger.go
index 37fddb5bd9..0b3d51b8e1 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/ledger.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/ledger.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ type GetLedgersHandler struct {
 }
 
 func (handler GetLedgersHandler) GetResourcePage(w HeaderWriter, r *http.Request) ([]hal.Pageable, error) {
-	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r)
+	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r, DefaultTOID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation.go
index f59191aee0..9ccadb272e 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ type GetOperationsHandler struct {
 func (handler GetOperationsHandler) GetResourcePage(w HeaderWriter, r *http.Request) ([]hal.Pageable, error) {
 	ctx := r.Context()
 
-	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r)
+	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r, DefaultTOID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation_test.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation_test.go
index 9aa033fd24..aaa21ef2a3 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation_test.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/operation_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/guregu/null"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+
 	"github.com/stellar/go/ingest"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/protocols/horizon/operations"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/services/horizon/internal/db2/history"
@@ -19,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	supportProblem "github.com/stellar/go/support/render/problem"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/toid"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/xdr"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
 func TestInvokeHostFnDetailsInPaymentOperations(t *testing.T) {
@@ -28,8 +29,14 @@ func TestInvokeHostFnDetailsInPaymentOperations(t *testing.T) {
 	test.ResetHorizonDB(t, tt.HorizonDB)
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{OnlyPayments: true}
-
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{OnlyPayments: true,
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetHorizonStatus(ledger.HorizonStatus{
+		HistoryLatest:    56,
+		HistoryElder:     56,
+		ExpHistoryLatest: 56,
+	})
 	txIndex := int32(1)
 	sequence := int32(56)
 	txID := toid.New(sequence, txIndex, 0).ToInt64()
@@ -178,10 +185,12 @@ func TestInvokeHostFnDetailsInPaymentOperations(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsWithoutFilter(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	records, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
@@ -196,10 +205,12 @@ func TestGetOperationsWithoutFilter(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsExclusiveFilters(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	testCases := []struct {
 		desc  string
@@ -255,10 +266,12 @@ func TestGetOperationsByLiquidityPool(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsFilterByAccountID(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	testCases := []struct {
 		accountID string
@@ -296,10 +309,12 @@ func TestGetOperationsFilterByAccountID(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsFilterByTxID(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	testCases := []struct {
 		desc          string
@@ -370,10 +385,12 @@ func TestGetOperationsFilterByTxID(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsIncludeFailed(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("failed_transactions")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("failed_transactions"))
 
 	records, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
@@ -500,10 +517,12 @@ func TestGetOperationsIncludeFailed(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsFilterByLedgerID(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	testCases := []struct {
 		ledgerID    string
@@ -571,12 +590,13 @@ func TestGetOperationsFilterByLedgerID(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsOnlyPayments(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
 	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState:  &ledger.State{},
 		OnlyPayments: true,
 	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	records, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
@@ -620,7 +640,7 @@ func TestGetOperationsOnlyPayments(t *testing.T) {
 	tt.Assert.NoError(err)
 	tt.Assert.Len(records, 1)
 
-	tt.Scenario("pathed_payment")
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("pathed_payment"))
 
 	records, err = handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
@@ -651,10 +671,12 @@ func TestGetOperationsOnlyPayments(t *testing.T) {
 func TestOperation_CreatedAt(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	records, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
@@ -676,12 +698,12 @@ func TestOperation_CreatedAt(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperationsPagination(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("base")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
 	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
 		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
 	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	records, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
@@ -735,10 +757,12 @@ func TestGetOperationsPagination(t *testing.T) {
 func TestGetOperations_IncludeTransactions(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("failed_transactions")
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetOperationsHandler{}
+	handler := GetOperationsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("failed_transactions"))
 
 	_, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
@@ -828,11 +852,12 @@ func TestGetOperation(t *testing.T) {
 func TestOperation_IncludeTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 	tt := test.Start(t)
 	defer tt.Finish()
-	tt.Scenario("kahuna")
 
 	handler := GetOperationByIDHandler{
 		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
 	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("kahuna"))
+
 	record, err := handler.GetResource(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),
 		makeRequest(
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/trade.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/trade.go
index d6bf415424..b29ad64715 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/trade.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/trade.go
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ type GetTradesHandler struct {
 func (handler GetTradesHandler) GetResourcePage(w HeaderWriter, r *http.Request) ([]hal.Pageable, error) {
 	ctx := r.Context()
 
-	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r)
+	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r, DefaultTOID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction.go
index 6903d5db2f..6a2fd1c6e2 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ type GetTransactionsHandler struct {
 func (handler GetTransactionsHandler) GetResourcePage(w HeaderWriter, r *http.Request) ([]hal.Pageable, error) {
 	ctx := r.Context()
 
-	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r)
+	pq, err := GetPageQuery(handler.LedgerState, r, DefaultTOID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction_test.go b/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction_test.go
index b76cf1b0bf..d501e38213 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction_test.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/actions/transaction_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stellar/go/protocols/horizon"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/services/horizon/internal/db2/history"
+	"github.com/stellar/go/services/horizon/internal/ledger"
 	"github.com/stellar/go/services/horizon/internal/test"
 	supportProblem "github.com/stellar/go/support/render/problem"
 )
@@ -16,7 +17,10 @@ func TestGetTransactionsHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	defer tt.Finish()
 
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
-	handler := GetTransactionsHandler{}
+	handler := GetTransactionsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetStatus(tt.Scenario("base"))
 
 	// filter by account
 	records, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
@@ -155,7 +159,14 @@ func TestFeeBumpTransactionPage(t *testing.T) {
 	test.ResetHorizonDB(t, tt.HorizonDB)
 	q := &history.Q{tt.HorizonSession()}
 	fixture := history.FeeBumpScenario(tt, q, true)
-	handler := GetTransactionsHandler{}
+	handler := GetTransactionsHandler{
+		LedgerState: &ledger.State{},
+	}
+	handler.LedgerState.SetHorizonStatus(ledger.HorizonStatus{
+		HistoryLatest:    fixture.Ledger.Sequence,
+		HistoryElder:     fixture.Ledger.Sequence,
+		ExpHistoryLatest: uint32(fixture.Ledger.Sequence),
+	})
 
 	records, err := handler.GetResourcePage(
 		httptest.NewRecorder(),