Chincoteague ponies are stocky, with short legs, thick manes, and large, round bellies. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. At assateague, struggles to keep the horses wild the. Assateague island national seashore, a 37mile long island along the coast of virigina and maryland, boasts some of the best beaches on the east coast. I was at assateague island last september and was fascinated by the small horses on the island. Chincoteague island is one of several barrier islands in this part of virginia, the largest being assateague island. Assateague island national seashore has a combined total of over 300 wild ponies. On friday, the stallions and mares in the southern herd swim back to assateague island. The wild horses on assateague are actually feral animals, meaning that they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state. The wild ponies of assateague island books for young explorers. Edwards like the rest of the chincoteage island, just because its winter doesnt mean the wild ponies of assateague islands chincoteague national wildlife refuge have been rolled up and stored away until spring. It is a unique vacation destination with breathtaking scenery and plenty of recreational opportunities including fishing, crabbing, clamming, kayaking, bird watching, wildlife. In thunder and rain, chincoteague ponies make annual swim. Assateague island, a 37mile long barrier island located off the coast of maryland and virginia, is most known for the more than 300 wild ponies who wander the beaches.
The wild horses of assateague island a national treasure the wild horses of assateague island are descendents of domesticated animals brought to the island over 300 years ago. Wild horse islands is the most comprehensive site on the web detailing the wild horse herds that roam on east coast barrier islands. Known as the chincoteague or assateague ponies, depending on which state they reside, they have become quite an attraction to tourists. A small book about the wonderful ponies of assateague. Assateague island national seashore presents a unique opportunity to observe the activities of horses in the wild. The park, adjacent to the assateague national wildlife refuge, offers swimming, windsurfing, fishing, nature trails, bicycle paths and a host of other activities.
Purchase books, videos and more that made chincoteague wild ponies famous. Color photos enrich the text that reveals the unique ecosystem on which the ponies depend. The visitor center has excellent programs, exhibits, and educational materials available to familiarize visitors with the complex social behavior of these fascinating animals. Assateague island national park kayak trips always feature plenty of wildlife. Assateague island is a 37mile 60 km long barrier island located off the eastern coast of the delmarva peninsula facing the atlantic ocean.
May 23, 2017 between the states of maryland and virginia, the feral ponies of assateague island roam the sandy shores. Customize your assateague island print with hundreds of different frames and mats, if desired. This barrier island park, located on the atlantic ocean, is known nationally for the wild horses that freely roam its 850 acres of beach, sand dune, salt marsh and maritime forest. Misty of chincoteague is a childrens novel written by marguerite henry, illustrated by wesley dennis, and published by rand mcnally in 1947. Assateague island state park assateague ponies, wildlife. Assateague wild ponies have roamed the beaches, pine forest, and salt marsh of assateague island since the 1600s. Visiting the wild ponies of assateague island in winter. Set in the island town of chincoteague, virginia, the book tells the story of the beebe family and their efforts to raise a filly born to a wild horse.
Oct 10, 2017 assateague island national park kayak trips always feature plenty of wildlife. Visiting the wild ponies of assateague island in winter december 16th, 20 by corey a. May 19, 2012 assateague was being developed as an island resort, but after the roads and structures were washed away, developers abandoned the idea, and the island joined the national park service instead. This educational read explores the day and the life of the wild ponies as they live free on the island. A herd of wild ponies graze on grass near the beach after after completing the 91st annual pony swim across the channel from assateague island to chincoteague island july 27, 2016 in chincoteague, virginia. The horses have been living on assateague island since the 1600s. Prior to the refuges establishment in 1943, the chincoteague volunteer fire company purchased the ponies and continues ownership to this day. The assateague island national seashore, established in 1962, occupies the northern twothirds of a 37milong barrier island, encompassing a small portion operated as assateague state park. Unlike adult wild horses, foals are easy to tame and can make gentle pets. Phil gregoli is one of the best hopes for keeping assateagues wild horses wild. Assateague island national seashore, marylandvirginia assateague island national seashore, marylandvirginia island partners in preservation also covers assateague state park md. Assateague island is a harsh environment for the ponies.
However, the book includes details on the once a year roundup call the pony penning. Here is accurate and fascinating information about their lives throughout the year, as they raise their young and look for food. Legend is they swam to shore after a spanish shipwreck. I like to play bocce ball and frisbee on the beach if i am not in the water. Aug 26, 2015 assateague wild ponies have roamed the beaches, pine forest, and salt marsh of assateague island since the 1600s. How to see the chincoteague ponies year round visit. See wild ponies at assateague island national seashore marylandvirginia. Shop for assateague island art prints from our community of independent artists and iconic brands. They are beautiful and even look as if they have been well taken care of, while they are not tame horses.
The wild ponies and childrens book misty of chincoteague are what chincoteague island is best known for. Jul 24, 20 the annual pony swim this years was the 88th is part of a weeklong series of events on chincoteague and assateague designed to thin out the herd of wild ponies. The famous book misty of chincoteague tells a story about this annual ritual. Theres a coarse gravel beach here, and the water is shallow. Pictures aside, my favorite part is how informative it is. Assateague wild ponies swim to chincoteague island in. Assateagues wild horses assateague island national.
Assateague was being developed as an island resort, but after the roads and structures were washed away, developers abandoned the idea, and the island joined the national park service instead. The annual pony swim this years was the 88th is part of a weeklong series of events on chincoteague and assateague designed to thin out the herd of wild ponies. Twenty minutes from ocean city, we found ourselves at the gateway to a gorgeous beach where wild ponies roam free. How the wild ponies arrived at assateague hundreds of years ago is still a mystery. You can park right at the beach and unload practically into the water.
The separate herd in virginia is owned by the chincoteague volunteer fire department, which sponsors the annual pony penning and swim every july. Assateague island national seashore plans to debut the assateague wild horse identification application, a free app that will provide visitors to assateague island and assateague state park the opportunity to correctly identify individual horses among the maryland herd by taking a photograph on their smartphone. The virginia section contains chincoteague national. Order the book misty of chincoteague assateague island. I love going to assateague island and hanging out the wild horses. The ponies diet consists mainly of marsh and dune grasses. The wild horses, popularized by marguerite henrys childrens book misty of chincoteague, have occupied the.
Dolphins and other marine creatures inhabit chincoteague. The national park service manages the herd of ponies at the northern end of assateague island. Chincoteague is 7 miles long and assateague is 37 miles long. Assateague state park was named by national geographic travel magazine as one of the 10 best state parks in the united states. The wild ponies of assateague island mortons on the move. The average height of a chincoteague pony is between 12 and hands any horse that stands less than 14 hands is considered a pony. In 1933, a storm formed the ocean city inlet and thus separated them. Horses tough enough to survive the scorching heat, abundant insects, stormy weather and poor quality food found on this windswept barrier island have formed a unique wild. In a kid and adult friendly manner, it talks about assateague island, ponies and the history of assateague and its ponies.
More than 300 wild ponies wander the beaches, inland pine forest, and salt marshes. Families will enjoy the nature center and lifeguarded beach. Assateague island to debut horse identifying app delmarvalife. A look at assateague island, on which the fictional home in misty of chincoteague is based, describes the lives of a band of horses there and discusses the islands. Island of wild ponies paperback september 1, 1997 by andrea jauck and larry points author, jeff d. Initially, ocean city and assateague island were connected. Find a spot in the sand north of the parking lots at assateague by 6 a. They are most likely descendants of domestic animals transported to assateague island in the 1600s to graze on marsh grasses, enabling their owners to avoid fencing. Assateague island national seashore, assateague state park. Fan page dedicated to the ponies of assateague island. Here you will find accurate information and abundant photographs, as well as where to find the herds and where to stay and eat while visiting. The chincoteague pony became an official registered breed in 1994. Horses tough enough to survive the scorching heat, abundant insects, stormy weather and poor quality food found on this windswept barrier island have formed a unique wild horse society.
The book tells the story of orphans paul and maureen beebe, who. Aug 18, 2014 camping on the beach at assateague island off the coast of maryland offers you the opposite experience, allowing you to fall asleep under the stars to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Assateague wild ponies swim to chincoteague island in annual. Camping 350 sites with a fire ring and picnic table, limited electric hookups. Watch the ponies from the northern herd make their march down the beach at the chincoteague national wildlife refuge, which abuts the assateague island national seashore, to join the southern herd. While phenotypically horselike, they are commonly called ponies.
Assateague wild ponies assateague island national seashore. On the last wednesday of july, the virginia herd of horses is rounded up and swum from assateague island to nearby chincoteage island. No one knows exactly how the the wild horses of assateague came to be. Wild ponies are herded into the assateague channel during the annual pony swim event from assateague island to chincoteague on july 29, 2015 in chincoteague, virginia. Rather than bears running by your campsite, youll keep your eyes and ears alert for the beautiful wild ponies that roam along the shoreline. Proceeds from the sale benefit the chincoteague volunteer fire department. The wild horses, popularized by marguerite henrys childrens book misty of chincoteague, have occupied the island for approximately 350 years. However, the more probable story is they were put on the island by their owners who wanted to avoid paying livestock taxes on the mainland. There are herds at assateague, md, assateague island chincoteague va. Herds of the majestic equines are rounded up by socalled saltwater cowboys, and led across the water to chincoteague in a spectacle drawing the attention of many vacationing families.
They are generally treated as wild animals, given no more or less assistance than other species on the island, other than to be treated with contraceptives to prevent overpopulation. The remainder of the ponies are herded back to assateague. Wild ponies are herded into the assateague channel during the annual pony swim event from assateague island to. Assateague island visit the national park and see the. The wild ponies of assateague island books for young explorers grosvenor, donna k on. The easiest and most reliable spot to view the southern herd is the pull off on beach road the main road on assateague island across from black duck marsh pool, which is also a great photo spot. Only the fittest and smartest ponies survived, and their genes live on in the current herd, which is vigorous, canny and well adapted to the rigors of a. Seashore caretakers want others to watch from afar as the ponies can be dangerous. The 37mile long barrier island of assateague comes to life in late july when visitors arrive for the annual pony penning and swim. Most likely not the romantic notion that the horses are escapees from a shipwrecked spanish galion is not true.
After all, the wild ponies have comfortably roamed the islands along the. The maryland section contains the majority of assateague island national seashore and assateague state park. Assateague island national seashore has a combined total of over 300 wild ponies in maryland and virginia. How would you like to come hang out on the beach with me and earn money doing what we want to do not have to. We may never solve the mystery behind how the ponies got to assateague island, but no one can deny that it was marguerite henry who made these ponies famous with her book misty of chincoteague.
Assateague island a national seashore visitors guide. Assateague contains over 37 miles of pristine beach. Here is a pic of me on the beach with a group of wild ponies. Assateague island, the fictional home of misty of chincoteague, is the real home of bands of wild ponies. The wild ponies of assateague island books for young. The wild ponies of assateague island is a great book for young readers. The chincoteague pony, also known as the assateague horse, is a breed of horse that developed and lives in a feral condition on assateague island in the states of virginia and maryland in the united states. With a neoncolored safety vest and walkietalkie, the retired printer is a member of the parks mostly. We see the wile ponies of assateeague that the famous book misty of chincoteague by marguerite henry wrote about. The wild horses of assateague island are descendants of domesticated animals brought to the island over 300 years ago. Assateague island is known for its wild ponies, excellent surf, and popular beach camping.
Horses tough enough to survive the scorching heat, abundant mosquitoes, stormy weather and poor quality food found on this remote, windswept barrier island have formed a unique wild horse society. I think the best way to see the wild horses is to just drive down route 611 to assateague, cross the bridge and look for them. Information about the pony auction in chincoteague island, va. It has a lot of really interesting facts and it is a great find whether you are sitting at home reading about it or actually visiting the island. The purchased foal will be returned to assateague island in order to maintain the herd, but the buyer gets to give the pony its name in exchange for buying it. Ponies from the maryland herd, referred to in literature of the national park service as assateague horses, live within assateague island national seashore. Assateague island national seashore is located close to chincoteague island, virginia and ocean city, maryland.
Its perfect amount of time, not too long to get tired but plenty long enough to see the beauty of chincoteague and assateague island. See wild ponies at assateague island national seashore. Adult ponies in the northern herd are trucked back. On the following day most of the young foals are auctioned off. These hardy ponies are welladapted to island life and have been surviving for hundreds of years. The true story of misty of chincoteague, the pony who stared. Assateague island state park features the famous wild assateague ponies in a beautiful nature preserve just 15 minutes from ocean city, md. Dec 16, 2016 identifying horses on your smartphone. Each assateague island art print is produced using archival inks, ships within 48 hours, and comes with a 30day money back guarantee. Between the states of maryland and virginia, the feral ponies of assateague island roam the sandy shores. The wild horses of assateague island newschool nomads.
Visit the wild ponies of assateague island cowgirl magazine. Two herds of wild horses make their home on assateague island, separated by a fence at the. Flush toilets and warm showers make this campground more civilized than the national seashore sites. The northern twothirds of the island is in maryland while the southern third is in virginia. Yes, we had reached the assateague island national seashore. The breed was made famous by the misty of chincoteague series of novels written by marguerite henry starting in 1947.
Assateagues horses rounded up by saltwater cowboys the 37mile long barrier island of assateague comes to life in late july when visitors arrive for the annual pony penning and swim. Chincoteague stallion loved reading the series of books about these ponies. Mar 14, 2017 the wild horses on assateague are actually feral animals, meaning that they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state. Jul 27, 2011 on the island of assateague, ponies roam free, but once a year herds are rounded up for a run and swim to chincoteague. Those are the best times to see the wild ponies during the season. Camping on the beach at assateague island off the coast of maryland offers you the opposite experience, allowing you to fall asleep under the stars to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. There are two herds that graze in the chincoteague national wildlife refuge located on the island just next to ours, assateague island.