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Chincoteague Ponies

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The Wild Ponies of Chincoteague and Assateague

This page describes the wild ponies of Chincoteague Island and Assateague Island.

The most well known Chincoteague ponies were Misty and Stormy, made famous by the series of novels from Marguerite Henry.

Chincoteague ponies are the main attraction during the Chincoteague Island Pony Roundup, Swim, Penning and Auction. The event is held annually on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July.

Chincoteague Ponies

Made famous by Marguerite Henry's bestselling book "Misty of Chincoteague", Chincoteague ponies run free on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which is the Virginia side of nearby Assateague Island. They are a beautiful breed, descended, according to local legend, from horses shipwrecked when a Spanish galleon sank just off the coast.

The ponies are the property of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company whose famous "saltwater cowboys" round up the horses annually during the Pony Penning on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. The ponies swim across a narrow part of the Assateague Channel at slack tide on Wednesday, corraled and auctioned off on Thursday.This "pony swim" is the highlight of the summer season.


Chincoteague Ponies (running stallion) shirt

Chincoteague Ponies (running stallion)

Chincoteague Pony Stallion shirt

Chincoteague Pony Stallion by north_america online store.

Chincoteague Pony History

While it's been well documented that at least 2 Spanish ships wrecked on the coast of Assateague Island, the exact origin of the ponies cannot be known.

Its highly likely that the ponies did originate from the Spanish ships and its well known that the herd has received many supplemental additions down thru the years.

Among the additions to the herd were ponies that were let loose by local citizens for a variety of reasons.

Other animals were released as a measure of diversifying the gene pool. These included ponies and several breeds of horses.

Chincoteague Ponies Calendar

These are the latest Chincoteague Island and Chincoteague Pony calendars.




Chincoteague Ponies calendar




Chincoteague Island calendar

More on Chinoceague Ponies

Chincoteague Pony Links


The Feather Fund

The Feather Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to continue the work begun by Carollynn Suplee to assist deserving children with the purchase and attendant costs associated with the acquisition of Chincoteague ponies, with the goal of helping each child learn about responsibility, care, love, work ethic, as well as the concept of "giving back to others" through the care and training of his or her animal. Additionally, the fund may provide financial support to related causes as determined by the advisory committee.

For more information or to donate to this organization, visit www.featherfund.org

Chincoteague Pony Books

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Chincoteague Ponies on the Assateague Island Book (Chincoteague Ponies On The Assateague Island Book, Volumn One)

Chincoteague Ponies on the Assateague Island Book (Chincoteague Ponies On The Assateague Island Book, Volumn One)

This book is about a small herd of ponies living o more...0 points

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Sea Star Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Sea Star Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Sequel to Misty of Chincoteague. Paul and Maureen are more...0 points

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The Treasure of Assateague Island by Frank Stringfellow

The Treasure of Assateague Island by Frank Stringfellow

The Treasure of Assateague Island is a blend of real more...0 points

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Misty Boxed Set (Misty's Twilight; Sea Star; Stormy, Misty's Foal; Misty of Chincoteague)

Misty Boxed Set (Misty's Twilight; Sea Star; Stormy, Misty's Foal; Misty of Chincoteague)

Misty's Twilight: Captivated by the story of "Misty more...0 points

Virginia Destinations

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Chincoteague and Assateague Information

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Chincoteague Pony Guestbook

Tell us your Chincoteague pony experiences or just leave a comment!

Have you visited Chincoteague?

Are you a pony enthusiast or owner of horses or ponies?

What is your favorite pony activity?

What Chincoteague pony books have you read?

  • anniebananie Jun 28, 2011 @ 10:22 am | delete
    i love that you included the FeatherFund in this. it makes me so happy.
  • d-artist Jan 24, 2011 @ 12:36 pm | delete
    Nice lens...love the Chincoteague Ponies...lensrolled to my 'Princess Pony' lens
  • starhorsepax Oct 23, 2009 @ 7:43 pm | delete
    Nice pictures. I wish mine were that good, but when I was there it was predigital camera!
  • HorseLoversMama Mar 8, 2009 @ 7:37 pm | delete
    The pictures and references here made me smile again and again!

    As for my experiences - they started when I was a kid. I even have 8-track home movies of my grandparents visiting Asseteague/Chincoteague.

    I've related a bit about my most recent experiences - now that I have a HORSE LOVER in my household - in my lens Take your Horse Lover on a Trip to Chincoteague

    I plan to write a few more in the future. I will check out your book list. I know my daughter has brought home several from her elementary school library - specifically on Chincoteague Ponies!
  • HorseAndPony Feb 2, 2009 @ 10:54 am | delete
    Great 5* lens. We love the Chincoteague Ponies and hope to visit in the near future. Glad to have you in our Pony Power group.
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daybreak

I enjoy the famous wild ponies of Chincoteague Island Virginia. I own and maintain several sites including www.chincoteague-island.net. more »

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