Chincoteague Ponies

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This page describes the wild ponies of Chincoteague Island Virginia and the Virginia and Maryland sections of Assateague Island. The most well known Chincoteague ponies were Misty and Stormy, made famous by the series of novels from Marguerite Henry.

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.

2008 Chincoteague Pony Foals

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.

A Blue Eyed Pony

Chincoteague Pony Books 

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

Sea Star Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Sea Star Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

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

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 r more...0 points

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 " more...0 points

Virginia Destinations 

Chincoteague Ponies Calendar 

These are the latest Chincoteague Island and Chincoteague Pony calendars.




Chincoteague Ponies calendar




Chincoteague Island calendar

Chincoteague News 

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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

New Chincoteague Island Articles 

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Chincoteague and Assateague Lenses 

Leave Us a Chincoteague Pony Comment 

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?

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  • Reply
    starhorsepax starhorsepax Oct 23, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
    Nice pictures. I wish mine were that good, but when I was there it was predigital camera!
  • Reply
    HorseLoversMama HorseLoversMama Mar 8, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
    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!
  • Reply
    HorseAndPony HorseAndPony Feb 2, 2009 @ 10:54 am
    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.
  • Reply
    pony maker pony maker Jan 13, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
    Check out "Misty" at www.chincoteaguebearfactory.com and let us know what you think of our site.
  • Reply
    Wysiwigs Wysiwigs Nov 25, 2008 @ 8:03 am
    Wonderful lens ~ I have not visited Chincoteague, but I do have Marguerite Henry's books on my shelf :o) 5*
    Http://www.Squidoo.com/EpicFarms
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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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