diff --git a/docs/maintainers/portfile-functions.md b/docs/maintainers/portfile-functions.md
index 45aa4589bc4..6527d8e0bbb 100644
--- a/docs/maintainers/portfile-functions.md
+++ b/docs/maintainers/portfile-functions.md
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 - [vcpkg\_from\_sourceforge](vcpkg_from_sourceforge.md)
 - [vcpkg\_get\_program\_files\_platform\_bitness](vcpkg_get_program_files_platform_bitness.md)
 - [vcpkg\_get\_windows\_sdk](vcpkg_get_windows_sdk.md)
+- [vcpkg\_host\_path\_list](vcpkg_host_path_list.md)
 - [vcpkg\_install\_cmake](vcpkg_install_cmake.md) (deprecated, use [vcpkg\_cmake\_install](ports/vcpkg-cmake/vcpkg_cmake_install.md))
 - [vcpkg\_install\_gn](vcpkg_install_gn.md)
 - [vcpkg\_install\_make](vcpkg_install_make.md)
diff --git a/docs/maintainers/vcpkg_host_path_list.md b/docs/maintainers/vcpkg_host_path_list.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8517e7f56e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/maintainers/vcpkg_host_path_list.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# vcpkg_host_path_list
+
+The latest version of this document lives in the [vcpkg repo](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/docs/maintainers/vcpkg_host_path_list.md).
+
+Modify a host path list variable (PATH, INCLUDE, LIBPATH, etc.)
+
+```cmake
+vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND <list-var> [<path>...])
+vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND <list-var> [<path>...])
+```
+
+`<list-var>` may be either a regular variable name, or `ENV{variable-name}`,
+in which case `vcpkg_host_path_list` will modify the environment.
+
+`vcpkg_host_path_list` adds all of the paths passed to it to `<list-var>`;
+`PREPEND` puts them before the existing list, so that they are searched first;
+`APPEND` places them after the existing list,
+so they would be searched after the paths which are already in the variable.
+
+For both `APPEND` and `PREPEND`,
+the paths are added (and thus searched) in the order received.
+
+If no paths are passed, then nothing will be done.
+
+## Source
+[scripts/cmake/vcpkg\_host\_path\_list.cmake](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake)
diff --git a/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_add_to_path.cmake b/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_add_to_path.cmake
index fe780c72a8d..b17aca36803 100644
--- a/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_add_to_path.cmake
+++ b/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_add_to_path.cmake
@@ -24,14 +24,11 @@ If no paths are passed, then nothing will be done.
 #]===]
 function(vcpkg_add_to_path)
     cmake_parse_arguments(PARSE_ARGV 0 "arg" "PREPEND" "" "")
-    if(NOT DEFINED arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS)
-        return()
+    if(arg_PREPEND)
+        set(operation PREPEND)
+    else()
+        set(operation APPEND)
     endif()
 
-    list(JOIN arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS "${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}" add_to_path)
-    if(arg_PREPEND)
-        set(ENV{PATH} "${add_to_path}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}$ENV{PATH}")
-    else()
-        set(ENV{PATH} "$ENV{PATH}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${add_to_path}")
-    endif()
+    vcpkg_host_path_list("${operation}" ENV{PATH} ${arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS})
 endfunction()
diff --git a/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig.cmake b/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig.cmake
index afa7e554812..9cb35b7b248 100644
--- a/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig.cmake
+++ b/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig.cmake
@@ -45,112 +45,121 @@ Still work in progress. If there are more cases which can be handled here feel f
 * [brotli](https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg/blob/master/ports/brotli/portfile.cmake)
 #]===]
 
-function(vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig_check_files pkg_cfg_cmd _file _config)
-    set(PATH_SUFFIX_DEBUG /debug)
-    set(PATH_SUFFIX_RELEASE)
-    set(PKGCONFIG_INSTALLED_DIR "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}${PATH_SUFFIX_${_config}}/lib/pkgconfig")
-    set(PKGCONFIG_INSTALLED_SHARE_DIR "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}/share/pkgconfig")
-    set(PKGCONFIG_PACKAGES_DIR "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}${PATH_SUFFIX_${_config}}/lib/pkgconfig")
-    set(PKGCONFIG_PACKAGES_SHARE_DIR "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/share/pkgconfig")
+function(z_vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig_check_files file config)
+    set(path_suffix_DEBUG /debug)
+    set(path_suffix_RELEASE "")
 
     if(DEFINED ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH})
-        set(BACKUP_ENV_PKG_CONFIG_PATH "$ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}")
+        set(backup_env_pkg_config_path "$ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}")
     else()
-        unset(BACKUP_ENV_PKG_CONFIG_PATH)
-    endif()
-    if(DEFINED ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH} AND NOT ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH} STREQUAL "")
-        set(ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH} "${PKGCONFIG_INSTALLED_DIR}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${PKGCONFIG_INSTALLED_SHARE_DIR}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${PKGCONFIG_PACKAGES_DIR}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${PKGCONFIG_PACKAGES_SHARE_DIR}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}$ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}")
-    else()
-        set(ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH} "${PKGCONFIG_INSTALLED_DIR}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${PKGCONFIG_INSTALLED_SHARE_DIR}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${PKGCONFIG_PACKAGES_DIR}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${PKGCONFIG_PACKAGES_SHARE_DIR}")
+        unset(backup_env_pkg_config_path)
     endif()
 
+    vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}
+        "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}${path_suffix_${config}}/lib/pkgconfig"
+        "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/share/pkgconfig"
+        "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}${path_suffix_${config}}/lib/pkgconfig"
+        "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}/share/pkgconfig"
+    )
+
     # First make sure everything is ok with the package and its deps
-    get_filename_component(_package_name "${_file}" NAME_WLE)
-    debug_message("Checking package (${_config}): ${_package_name}")
-    execute_process(COMMAND "${pkg_cfg_cmd}" --print-errors --exists ${_package_name}
-                    WORKING_DIRECTORY "${CURRENT_BUILDTREES_DIR}"
-                    RESULT_VARIABLE _pkg_error_var
-                    OUTPUT_VARIABLE _pkg_output
-                    ERROR_VARIABLE  _pkg_error_out
-                    OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
-                    ERROR_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
-                    )
-    if(NOT _pkg_error_var EQUAL 0)
-        message(STATUS "pkg_cfg_cmd call with:${pkg_cfg_cmd} --exists ${_package_name} failed")
-        message(STATUS "ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}:$ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}")
-        message(STATUS "pkg-config call failed with error code:${_pkg_error_var}")
-        message(STATUS "pkg-config output:${_pkg_output}")
-        message(FATAL_ERROR "pkg-config error output:${_pkg_error_out}")
+    cmake_path(GET file STEM LAST_ONLY package_name)
+    debug_message("Checking package (${config}): ${package_name}")
+    execute_process(
+        COMMAND "${PKGCONFIG}" --print-errors --exists "${package_name}"
+        WORKING_DIRECTORY "${CURRENT_BUILDTREES_DIR}"
+        RESULT_VARIABLE error_var
+        OUTPUT_VARIABLE output
+        ERROR_VARIABLE  output
+        OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
+        ERROR_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
+    )
+    if(NOT "${error_var}" EQUAL "0")
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "${PKGCONFIG} --exists ${package_name} failed with error code: ${error_var}
+    ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}: \"$ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH}\"
+    output: ${output}"
+        )
     else()
-        debug_message("pkg-config returned:${_pkg_error_var}")
-        debug_message("pkg-config output:${_pkg_output}")
-        debug_message("pkg-config error output:${_pkg_error_out}")
+        debug_message("pkg-config --exists ${package_name} output: ${output}")
     endif()
-    if(DEFINED BACKUP_ENV_PKG_CONFIG_PATH)
-        set(ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH} "${BACKUP_ENV_PKG_CONFIG_PATH}")
+    if(DEFINED backup_env_pkg_config_path)
+        set(ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH} "${backup_env_pkg_config_path}")
     else()
         unset(ENV{PKG_CONFIG_PATH})
     endif()
 endfunction()
 
 function(vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig)
-    # parse parameters such that semicolons in options arguments to COMMAND don't get erased
-    cmake_parse_arguments(PARSE_ARGV 0 _vfpkg "SKIP_CHECK" "" "RELEASE_FILES;DEBUG_FILES;SYSTEM_LIBRARIES;SYSTEM_PACKAGES;IGNORE_FLAGS")
+    cmake_parse_arguments(PARSE_ARGV 0 arg 
+        "SKIP_CHECK"
+        ""
+        "RELEASE_FILES;DEBUG_FILES;SYSTEM_LIBRARIES;SYSTEM_PACKAGES;IGNORE_FLAGS"
+    )
 
-    if(_vfpkg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS)
-        message(FATAL_ERROR "vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig() was passed extra arguments: ${_vfct_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS}")
+    if(DEFINED arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS)
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_FUNCTION} was passed extra arguments: ${arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS}")
     endif()
 
-    if((DEFINED _vfpkg_RELEASE_FILES AND NOT DEFINED _vfpkg_DEBUG_FILES) OR (NOT DEFINED _vfpkg_RELEASE_FILES AND DEFINED _vfpkg_DEBUG_FILES))
-        message(FATAL_ERROR "vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig() requires both or neither of DEBUG_FILES and RELEASE_FILES")
+    if(DEFINED arg_RELEASE_FILES AND NOT DEFINED arg_DEBUG_FILES)
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "DEBUG_FILES must be specified if RELEASE_FILES was specified.")
+    endif()
+    if(NOT DEFINED arg_RELEASE_FILES AND DEFINED arg_DEBUG_FILES)
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "RELEASE_FILES must be specified if DEBUG_FILES was specified.")
     endif()
 
-    if(NOT DEFINED _vfpkg_RELEASE_FILES)
-        file(GLOB_RECURSE _vfpkg_RELEASE_FILES "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/**/*.pc")
-        file(GLOB_RECURSE _vfpkg_DEBUG_FILES "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/debug/**/*.pc")
-        if(_vfpkg_DEBUG_FILES)
-            list(REMOVE_ITEM _vfpkg_RELEASE_FILES ${_vfpkg_DEBUG_FILES})
-        endif()
+    if(NOT DEFINED arg_RELEASE_FILES)
+        file(GLOB_RECURSE arg_RELEASE_FILES "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/**/*.pc")
+        file(GLOB_RECURSE arg_DEBUG_FILES "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/debug/**/*.pc")
+        foreach(debug_file IN LISTS arg_DEBUG_FILES)
+            vcpkg_list(REMOVE_ITEM arg_RELEASE_FILES "${debug_file}")
+        endforeach()
     endif()
 
-    #Absolute Unix like paths 
-    string(REGEX REPLACE "([a-zA-Z]):/" "/\\1/" _VCPKG_PACKAGES_DIR "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}")
-    string(REGEX REPLACE "([a-zA-Z]):/" "/\\1/" _VCPKG_INSTALLED_DIR "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}")
+    string(REGEX REPLACE "^([a-zA-Z]):/" [[/\1/]] unix_packages_dir "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}")
+    string(REGEX REPLACE "^([a-zA-Z]):/" [[/\1/]] unix_installed_dir "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}")
 
-    foreach(CONFIG RELEASE DEBUG)
-        debug_message("${CONFIG} Files: ${_vfpkg_${CONFIG}_FILES}")
-        if(VCPKG_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "debug" AND CONFIG STREQUAL "RELEASE")
+    foreach(config IN ITEMS RELEASE DEBUG)
+        debug_message("${config} Files: ${arg_${config}_FILES}")
+        if("${VCPKG_BUILD_TYPE}" STREQUAL "debug" AND "${config}" STREQUAL "RELEASE")
             continue()
         endif()
-        if(VCPKG_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "release" AND CONFIG STREQUAL "DEBUG")
+        if("${VCPKG_BUILD_TYPE}" STREQUAL "release" AND "${config}" STREQUAL "DEBUG")
             continue()
         endif()
-        foreach(_file ${_vfpkg_${CONFIG}_FILES})
-            message(STATUS "Fixing pkgconfig file: ${_file}")
-            get_filename_component(PKG_LIB_SEARCH_PATH "${_file}" DIRECTORY)
-            if(CONFIG STREQUAL "DEBUG")
-                file(RELATIVE_PATH RELATIVE_PC_PATH "${PKG_LIB_SEARCH_PATH}" "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/debug/")
+        foreach(file IN LISTS "arg_${config}_FILES")
+            message(STATUS "Fixing pkgconfig file: ${file}")
+            cmake_path(GET file PARENT_PATH pkg_lib_search_path)
+            if("${config}" STREQUAL "DEBUG")
+                set(relative_pc_path "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/debug")
+                cmake_path(RELATIVE_PATH relative_pc_path BASE_DIRECTORY "${pkg_lib_search_path}")
             else()
-                file(RELATIVE_PATH RELATIVE_PC_PATH "${PKG_LIB_SEARCH_PATH}" "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}")
+                set(relative_pc_path "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}")
+                cmake_path(RELATIVE_PATH relative_pc_path BASE_DIRECTORY "${pkg_lib_search_path}")
             endif()
-            # strip trailing slash
-            string(REGEX REPLACE "/$" "" RELATIVE_PC_PATH "${RELATIVE_PC_PATH}")
             #Correct *.pc file
-            file(READ "${_file}" _contents)
-            string(REPLACE "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}" "\${prefix}" _contents "${_contents}")
-            string(REPLACE "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}" "\${prefix}" _contents "${_contents}")
-            string(REPLACE "${_VCPKG_PACKAGES_DIR}" "\${prefix}" _contents "${_contents}")
-            string(REPLACE "${_VCPKG_INSTALLED_DIR}" "\${prefix}" _contents "${_contents}")
-            string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)prefix[\t ]*=[^\n]*" "" _contents "${_contents}")
-            if(CONFIG STREQUAL "DEBUG")
-                string(REPLACE "}/debug" "}" _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Prefix points at the debug subfolder
-                string(REPLACE "\${prefix}/include" "\${prefix}/../include" _contents "${_contents}")
-                string(REPLACE "\${prefix}/share" "\${prefix}/../share" _contents "${_contents}")
+            file(READ "${file}" contents)
+
+            # this normalizes all files to end with a newline, and use LF instead of CRLF;
+            # this allows us to use regex matches easier to modify these files.
+            if(NOT "${contents}" MATCHES "\n$")
+                string(APPEND contents "\n")
             endif()
-            string(REGEX REPLACE " -L(\\\${[^}]*}[^ \n\t]*)" " -L\"\\1\"" _contents "${_contents}")
-            string(REGEX REPLACE " -I(\\\${[^}]*}[^ \n\t]*)" " -I\"\\1\"" _contents "${_contents}")
-            string(REGEX REPLACE " -l(\\\${[^}]*}[^ \n\t]*)" " -l\"\\1\"" _contents "${_contents}")
+            string(REPLACE "\r\n" "\n" contents "${contents}")
+
+            string(REPLACE "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}" [[${prefix}]] contents "${contents}")
+            string(REPLACE "${CURRENT_INSTALLED_DIR}" [[${prefix}]] contents "${contents}")
+            string(REPLACE "${unix_packages_dir}" [[${prefix}]] contents "${contents}")
+            string(REPLACE "${unix_installed_dir}" [[${prefix}]] contents "${contents}")
+
+            string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)prefix[\t ]*=[^\n]*" "" contents "${contents}")
+            if("${config}" STREQUAL "DEBUG")
+                # prefix points at the debug subfolder
+                string(REPLACE [[${prefix}/debug]] [[${prefix}]] contents "${contents}")
+                string(REPLACE [[${prefix}/include]] [[${prefix}/../include]] contents "${contents}")
+                string(REPLACE [[${prefix}/share]] [[${prefix}/../share]] contents "${contents}")
+            endif()
+            # quote -L, -I, and -l paths starting with `${blah}`
+            string(REGEX REPLACE " -([LIl])(\\\${[^}]*}[^ \n\t]*)" [[ -\1"\2"]] contents "${contents}")
             # This section fuses XYZ.private and XYZ according to VCPKG_LIBRARY_LINKAGE
             #
             # Pkgconfig searches Requires.private transitively for Cflags in the dynamic case,
@@ -158,41 +167,44 @@ function(vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig)
             #
             # Once this transformation is complete, users of vcpkg should never need to pass
             # --static.
-            if(VCPKG_LIBRARY_LINKAGE STREQUAL "static")
-                # Libs comes before Libs.private
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)(Libs: *[^\n]*)(.*)\nLibs.private:( *[^\n]*)" "\\1\\2\\4\\3" _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Libs.private comes before Libs
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)Libs.private:( *[^\n]*)(.*\nLibs: *[^\n]*)" "\\3\\2" _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Only Libs.private
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)Libs.private: *" "\\1Libs: " _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Cflags comes before Cflags.private
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)(Cflags: *[^\n]*)(.*)\nCflags.private:( *[^\n]*)" "\\1\\2\\4\\3" _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Cflags.private comes before Cflags
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)Cflags.private:( *[^\n]*)(.*\nCflags: *[^\n]*)" "\\3\\2" _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Only Cflags.private
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)Cflags.private: *" "\\1Cflags: " _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Requires comes before Requires.private
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)(Requires: *[^\n]*)(.*)\nRequires.private:( *[^\n]*)" "\\1\\2\\4\\3" _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Requires.private comes before Requires
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)Requires.private:( *[^\n]*)(.*\nRequires: *[^\n]*)" "\\3\\2" _contents "${_contents}")
-                # Only Requires.private
-                string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)Requires.private: *" "\\1Requires: " _contents "${_contents}")
+            if("${VCPKG_LIBRARY_LINKAGE}" STREQUAL "static")
+                # how this works:
+                # we want to transform:
+                #   Libs: $1
+                #   Libs.private: $2
+                # into
+                #    Libs: $1 $2
+                # and the same thing for Requires and Requires.private
+
+                foreach(item IN ITEMS "Libs" "Requires" "Cflags")
+                    set(line "")
+                    if("${contents}" MATCHES "(^|\n)${item}: *([^\n]*)")
+                        string(APPEND line " ${CMAKE_MATCH_2}")
+                    endif()
+                    if("${contents}" MATCHES "(^|\n)${item}\\.private: *([^\n]*)")
+                        string(APPEND line " ${CMAKE_MATCH_2}")
+                    endif()
+
+                    string(REGEX REPLACE "(^|\n)${item}(\\.private)?:[^\n]*\n" [[\1]] contents "${contents}")
+                    if(NOT "${line}" STREQUAL "")
+                        string(APPEND contents "${item}:${line}\n")
+                    endif()
+                endforeach()
             endif()
-            file(WRITE "${_file}" "prefix=\${pcfiledir}/${RELATIVE_PC_PATH}\n${_contents}")
-            unset(PKG_LIB_SEARCH_PATH)
+            file(WRITE "${file}" "prefix=\${pcfiledir}/${relative_pc_path}\n${contents}")
         endforeach()
 
-        if(NOT _vfpkg_SKIP_CHECK) # The check can only run after all files have been corrected!
+        if(NOT arg_SKIP_CHECK) # The check can only run after all files have been corrected!
             vcpkg_find_acquire_program(PKGCONFIG)
             debug_message("Using pkg-config from: ${PKGCONFIG}")
-            foreach(_file ${_vfpkg_${CONFIG}_FILES})
-                vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig_check_files("${PKGCONFIG}" "${_file}" "${CONFIG}")
+            foreach(file IN LISTS "arg_${config}_FILES")
+                z_vcpkg_fixup_pkgconfig_check_files("${file}" "${config}")
             endforeach()
         endif()
     endforeach()
     debug_message("Fixing pkgconfig --- finished")
 
-    set(VCPKG_FIXUP_PKGCONFIG_CALLED TRUE CACHE INTERNAL "See below" FORCE)
+    set(Z_VCPKG_FIXUP_PKGCONFIG_CALLED TRUE CACHE INTERNAL "See below" FORCE)
     # Variable to check if this function has been called!
     # Theoreotically vcpkg could look for *.pc files and automatically call this function
     # or check if this function has been called if *.pc files are detected.
diff --git a/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake b/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d849cd42d35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/cmake/vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#[===[
+# vcpkg_host_path_list
+
+Modify a host path list variable (PATH, INCLUDE, LIBPATH, etc.)
+
+```cmake
+vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND <list-var> [<path>...])
+vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND <list-var> [<path>...])
+```
+
+`<list-var>` may be either a regular variable name, or `ENV{variable-name}`,
+in which case `vcpkg_host_path_list` will modify the environment.
+
+`vcpkg_host_path_list` adds all of the paths passed to it to `<list-var>`;
+`PREPEND` puts them before the existing list, so that they are searched first;
+`APPEND` places them after the existing list,
+so they would be searched after the paths which are already in the variable.
+
+For both `APPEND` and `PREPEND`,
+the paths are added (and thus searched) in the order received.
+
+If no paths are passed, then nothing will be done.
+#]===]
+function(vcpkg_host_path_list)
+    if("${ARGC}" LESS "2")
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "vcpkg_host_path_list requires at least two arguments.")
+    endif()
+
+    if("${ARGV1}" MATCHES "^ARGV([0-9]*)$|^ARG[CN]$|^CMAKE_CURRENT_FUNCTION|^CMAKE_MATCH_")
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "vcpkg_host_path_list does not support the list_var being ${ARGV1}.
+    Please use a different variable name.")
+    endif()
+
+    if("${ARGV1}" MATCHES [[^ENV\{(.*)\}$]])
+        set(list "$ENV{${CMAKE_MATCH_1}}")
+        set(env_var ON)
+    elseif("${ARGV1}" MATCHES [[^([A-Z]+)\{.*\}$]])
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "vcpkg_host_path_list does not support ${CMAKE_MATCH_1} variables;
+    only ENV{} and regular variables are supported.")
+    else()
+        set(list "${${ARGV1}}")
+        set(env_var OFF)
+    endif()
+    set(operation "${ARGV0}")
+    set(list_var "${ARGV1}")
+
+    if("${operation}" MATCHES "^(APPEND|PREPEND)$")
+        cmake_parse_arguments(PARSE_ARGV 2 arg "" "" "")
+        if(NOT DEFINED arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS)
+            return()
+        endif()
+
+        if("${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}" STREQUAL ";")
+            set(to_add "${arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS}")
+            string(FIND "${arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS}" [[\;]] index_of_host_path_separator)
+        else()
+            vcpkg_list(JOIN arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS "${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}" to_add)
+            string(FIND "${arg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS}" "${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}" index_of_host_path_separator)
+        endif()
+
+        if(NOT "${index_of_host_path_separator}" EQUAL "-1")
+            message(FATAL_ERROR "Host path separator (${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}) in path; this is unsupported.")
+        endif()
+
+        if("${list}" STREQUAL "")
+            set(list "${to_add}")
+        elseif(arg_PREPEND)
+            set(list "${to_add}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${list}")
+        else()
+            set(list "${list}${VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR}${to_add}")
+        endif()
+    else()
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "Operation ${operation} not recognized.")
+    endif()
+
+    if(env_var)
+        set("${list_var}" "${list}")
+    else()
+        set("${list_var}" "${list}" PARENT_SCOPE)
+    endif()
+endfunction()
diff --git a/scripts/ports.cmake b/scripts/ports.cmake
index e33fa58657e..914c47cae9c 100644
--- a/scripts/ports.cmake
+++ b/scripts/ports.cmake
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_from_gitlab.cmake")
 include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_from_sourceforge.cmake")
 include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_get_program_files_platform_bitness.cmake")
 include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_get_windows_sdk.cmake")
+include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake")
 include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_install_cmake.cmake")
 include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_install_gn.cmake")
 include("${SCRIPTS}/cmake/vcpkg_install_make.cmake")
diff --git a/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/portfile.cmake b/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/portfile.cmake
index a567c11dec0..497cb18a383 100644
--- a/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/portfile.cmake
+++ b/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/portfile.cmake
@@ -23,6 +23,56 @@ endmacro()
 set(Z_VCPKG_UNIT_TEST_HAS_ERROR OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
 unset_fatal_error()
 
+# in order to allow namespacing
+function(unit_test_match namespace value regex)
+    if("${value}" MATCHES "${regex}")
+        set("${namespace}_MATCHED" ON PARENT_SCOPE)
+        if("${CMAKE_MATCH_COUNT}" EQUAL "0")
+            return()
+        endif()
+
+        foreach(match RANGE 1 "${CMAKE_MATCH_COUNT}")
+            set("${namespace}_CMAKE_MATCH_${match}" "${CMAKE_MATCH_${match}}" PARENT_SCOPE)
+        endforeach()
+    else()
+        set("${namespace}_MATCHED" OFF PARENT_SCOPE)
+    endif()
+endfunction()
+
+function(unit_test_check_variable_unset utcvu_test utcvu_variable)
+    cmake_language(EVAL CODE "${utcvu_test}")
+    if(Z_VCPKG_UNIT_TEST_HAS_FATAL_ERROR)
+        unset_fatal_error()
+        set_has_error()
+        message(STATUS "${utcvu_test} had an unexpected FATAL_ERROR;
+    expected: \"${utcvu_value}\"")
+        message(STATUS "FATAL_ERROR: ${Z_VCPKG_UNIT_TEST_FATAL_ERROR}")
+        return()
+    endif()
+
+    unit_test_match(utcvu "${utcvu_variable}" [[^(ENV|CACHE)\{(.*)\}$]])
+    if(utcvu_MATCHED)
+        message(STATUS "utcvu_variable: ${utcvu_CMAKE_MATCH_2}")
+        if("${utcvu_CMAKE_MATCH_1}" STREQUAL "ENV")
+            set(utcvu_actual_value "$ENV{${utcvu_CMAKE_MATCH_2}}")
+        elseif("${utcvu_CMAKE_MATCH_1}" STREQUAL "CACHE")
+            set(utcvu_actual_value "$CACHE{${utcvu_CMAKE_MATCH_2}}")
+        else()
+            _message(FATAL_ERROR "unexpected value for CMAKE_MATCH_1: ${utcvu_CMAKE_MATCH_1}")
+        endif()
+    else()
+        set(utcvu_actual_value "${${utcvu_variable}}")
+    endif()
+
+    if(DEFINED "${utcvu_variable}")
+        message(STATUS "${utcvu_test} set ${utcvu_variable};
+    expected: \"${utcvu_variable}\" unset
+    actual  : \"${utcvu_actual_value}\"")
+        set_has_error()
+        return()
+    endif()
+endfunction()
+
 function(unit_test_check_variable_equal utcve_test utcve_variable utcve_value)
     cmake_language(EVAL CODE "${utcve_test}")
     if(Z_VCPKG_UNIT_TEST_HAS_FATAL_ERROR)
@@ -40,10 +90,25 @@ function(unit_test_check_variable_equal utcve_test utcve_variable utcve_value)
         set_has_error()
         return()
     endif()
-    if(NOT "${${utcve_variable}}" STREQUAL "${utcve_value}")
+
+    unit_test_match(utcve "${utcve_variable}" [[^(ENV|CACHE)\{(.*)\}$]])
+    if(utcve_MATCHED)
+        message(STATUS "utcve_variable: ${utcve_CMAKE_MATCH_2}")
+        if("${utcve_CMAKE_MATCH_1}" STREQUAL "ENV")
+            set(utcve_actual_value "$ENV{${utcve_CMAKE_MATCH_2}}")
+        elseif("${utcve_CMAKE_MATCH_1}" STREQUAL "CACHE")
+            set(utcve_actual_value "$CACHE{${utcve_CMAKE_MATCH_2}}")
+        else()
+            _message(FATAL_ERROR "unexpected value for CMAKE_MATCH_1: ${utcve_CMAKE_MATCH_1}")
+        endif()
+    else()
+        set(utcve_actual_value "${${utcve_variable}}")
+    endif()
+
+    if(NOT "${utcve_actual_value}" STREQUAL "${utcve_value}")
         message(STATUS "${utcve_test} resulted in the wrong value for ${utcve_variable};
     expected: \"${utcve_value}\"
-    actual  : \"${${utcve_variable}}\"")
+    actual  : \"${utcve_actual_value}\"")
         set_has_error()
         return()
     endif()
@@ -74,6 +139,9 @@ endif()
 if("list" IN_LIST FEATURES)
     include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/test-vcpkg_list.cmake")
 endif()
+if("add-to-path" IN_LIST FEATURES)
+    include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/test-vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake")
+endif()
 if("function-arguments" IN_LIST FEATURES)
     include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/test-z_vcpkg_function_arguments.cmake")
 endif()
diff --git a/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/test-vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake b/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/test-vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a6322d37556
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/test-vcpkg_host_path_list.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+# CACHE{var} is a fatal error
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND CACHE{var})]])
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND CACHE{var})]])
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND CACHE{var} c d)]])
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND CACHE{var} c d)]])
+
+# regular variable, HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR = ';'
+set(VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR ";")
+
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var "a;b")]])
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var "a;b")]])
+
+set(var "a;b")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var d e)]]
+    var "a;b;d;e"
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var)]]
+    var "a;b"
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var d e)]]
+    var "d;e;a;b"
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var)]]
+    var "a;b"
+)
+
+set(var "")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var d e)]]
+    var "d;e"
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var)]]
+    var ""
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var d e)]]
+    var "d;e"
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var)]]
+    var ""
+)
+
+unset(var)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var d e)]]
+    var "d;e"
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var)]]
+    var ""
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var d e)]]
+    var "d;e"
+)
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var)]]
+    var ""
+)
+
+# regular variable, HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR = ':'
+set(VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR ":")
+
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND var "a:b")]])
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND var "a:b")]])
+
+set(ENV{var} "a:b")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "a:b:d:e"
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} "a:b"
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e:a:b"
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} "a:b"
+)
+
+set(ENV{var} "")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
+
+unset(ENV{var})
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
+
+# environment ENV{var}iable, HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR = ';'
+set(VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR ";")
+
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b")]])
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b")]])
+
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{ENV{var}} d e)]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b;d;e"
+)
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{ENV{var}})]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b"
+)
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{ENV{var}} d e)]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "d;e;a;b"
+)
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{ENV{var}})]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "a;b"
+)
+
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{ENV{var}} d e)]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "d;e"
+)
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{ENV{var}})]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} ""
+)
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{ENV{var}} d e)]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "d;e"
+)
+set(ENV{ENV{var}} "")
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} ""
+)
+
+unset(ENV{ENV{var}})
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{ENV{var}} d e)]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "d;e"
+)
+unset(ENV{ENV{var}})
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{ENV{var}})]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} ""
+)
+unset(ENV{ENV{var}})
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{ENV{var}} d e)]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} "d;e"
+)
+unset(ENV{ENV{var}})
+unit_test_check_ENV{var}iable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{ENV{var}})]]
+    ENV{ENV{var}} ""
+)
+
+# regular ENV{var}iable, HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR = ':'
+set(VCPKG_HOST_PATH_SEPARATOR ":")
+
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var} "a:b")]])
+unit_test_ensure_fatal_error([[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var} "a:b")]])
+
+set(ENV{var} "a:b")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "a:b:d:e"
+)
+set(ENV{var} "a:b")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} "a:b"
+)
+set(ENV{var} "a:b")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e:a:b"
+)
+set(ENV{var} "a:b")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} "a:b"
+)
+
+set(ENV{var} "")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+set(ENV{var} "")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
+set(ENV{var} "")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+set(ENV{var} "")
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
+
+unset(ENV{var})
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+unset(ENV{var})
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(APPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
+unset(ENV{var})
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var} d e)]]
+    ENV{var} "d:e"
+)
+unset(ENV{var})
+unit_test_check_variable_equal(
+    [[vcpkg_host_path_list(PREPEND ENV{var})]]
+    ENV{var} ""
+)
diff --git a/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/vcpkg.json b/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/vcpkg.json
index c20cf2c6cb8..366d1d7a93f 100644
--- a/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/vcpkg.json
+++ b/scripts/test_ports/unit-test-cmake/vcpkg.json
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
     "minimum-required"
   ],
   "features": {
+    "host-path-list": {
+      "description": "Test the vcpkg_host_path_list function"
+    },
     "function-arguments": {
       "description": "Test the z_vcpkg_function_arguments function"
     },