History and FAQ's

HISTORY OF THE CHINCOTEAGUE PONY

How did these ponies ever get to Assateague Island off the coast Virginia?

The legend is that these ponies swam ashore to Assateague Island from a Spanish vessel named the Santo Cristo which had capsized around the century 1600. It's cargo of horses was to go to the Viceroy of Peru and help in the gold mines.

Another theory on how the ponies came to Assateague Island is that early settlers turned them loose there to avoid paying taxes on them.

Either way they have been living wild on the island for hundreds of years. Once on the islands they bred down to pony size. They adjusted their diet to what was available; coarse salt marsh cordgrass, American beach grass, thorny greenbrier stems, bayberry twigs, seaweed and even poison ivy. Thus the horses bred to the unique breed known today as the Chincoteague Pony.

Marguerite Henry made the Chincoteague Pony famous with her classic children’s book “Misty of Chincoteague” that was published in 1947.

Today there are two groups of these ponies. The two groups are “The Maryland Herd” and “The Virginia Herd”. The Maryland Herd consists of approximately 140 head and is overseen by the Maryland Park Service. The Virginia Herd consists of approximately 130 head and are overseen by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. The ponies graze in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Virginia portion of Assateague Island. There is a secure wire fence dividing the island and the herds. The Maryland Herd has shots to keep them from reproducing.

The famous annual “Pony Round-up” and “Pony Swim” is held each year during the month of July. This pony penning began in 1927 to help fund a volunteer fire department for Chincoteague Island. The annual auction helped to build a large fire house on Chincoteague Island, Virginia and continues annually to provide money for the upkeep of the ponies. The whole process of the Pony Round-Up, auction and return swim takes three days.

Today the ponies living away from the islands are easy keepers. They will do nicely in a paddock with hay, a salt block and fresh water. They have great feet and do not require shoes. Most today are between 13HH and 14.2 HH.

STANDARD

COLOR: Many Chincoteague ponies have pinto spotting either overo or tobiano. They can come in any color.

CONFORMATION: Most ponies tend to resemble the Welsh or Arabian breeds, although Mustang blood is obvious in others. The head is expressive, with broad forehead; large, soft eyes, straight or slightly dished short face; firm muzzle; small, wide-set, tipped-in ears; tapered muzzle, large nostrils and rounded jowls. The body is clean with a, moderately refined throat latch and neck; well-angulated shoulder; broad chest and loins; short back; deep flanks; well-sprung ribs; round croup; straight, sound legs with dense bone and an appearance of overall hardiness; round, hard hooves; thick mane and tail. They typically are between 13 HH and 14.2 HH.

DISPOSITION: The disposition of a Chincoteague Pony is well known to be good natured and gentle. With a love of people they are highly intelligent, versatile, and well suited for children.

TRAITS: The Chincoteague Pony performs well in hunt seat, jumping, driving, and trail riding. They respond well to gentle training techniques because of their easy attachments to their owners as well as other horses. The ponies colorfully marked coats are a particular favorite when showing.