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Since the publication of Marguerite Henry's 'Misty of Chincoteague' series of books and the film 'Misty', thousands of children have wanted their own Misty. The title character was in fact based on a real animal that belonged to Henry. Misty was of a breed known as Chincoteague ponies.
Even though they're named after the neighboring island, Chincoteague ponies are found on Assateague Island, a barrier island partly in Virginia and partly in Maryland. They live here as feral animals. After having lived on the island for generations, they have adapted to the natural environment here.
How the animals arrived on Assateague Island is a bit of a mystery. One theory is that colonists brought them to the island in the seventeenth century. In those days it would have been a way for the farmers to avoid taxes on their livestock, which they would have had to pay on the mainland. In addition, on the island the farmers wouldn't have had to comply with laws like fencing laws. There is another theory that sounds more romantic, though. It is the belief that the animals arrived here as survivors of a shipwreck off the coast.
To adapt to the conditions on the island, the animals have become less horse-like and more pony-like. The grazing provides poor nutrition, so these equines are small, only about 13.2 hands in height and about 850 pounds in weight. However, when they get better nutrition, they can become bigger.
The animals have strong legs, especially in the joints and feet, making it easier for them to navigate the sandy soil of the island. Because the marsh grasses are salty, the animals need to drink a lot of water too. They drink twice as much as other equines this size, so that they may look fat or bloated.
The animals come in many different colors. Some are brown and some are black all over. However, the coloring that most buyers want is pinto-patterned with patches of white and brown or black.
On Assateague Island, there are two herds separated by the state line. On the Maryland side, they are known as Assateague horses. This herd belongs to the National Park Service. The animals are treated in the same way as other wild animals except that they get contraceptives. This is to keep their numbers in check and prevent overgrazing.
The herd on the Virginia side is the property and responsibility of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. To keep the herd small, there is a Pony Penning Day every year in July, on the third Wednesday of the month. This involves so-called Saltwater Cowboys rounding up the animals and making them swim to Chincoteague Island, separated from Assateague by a channel. This is followed by an auction of foals. The proceeds go to the fire service and the animals that aren't sold, are returned to Assateague.
Pony Penning Day has become a tourist attraction on the island. In addition, it has become a way for people to buy Chincoteague ponies and return them to the mainland. This means that for many children, having their own Misty will not be a pipe dream.
Even though they're named after the neighboring island, Chincoteague ponies are found on Assateague Island, a barrier island partly in Virginia and partly in Maryland. They live here as feral animals. After having lived on the island for generations, they have adapted to the natural environment here.
How the animals arrived on Assateague Island is a bit of a mystery. One theory is that colonists brought them to the island in the seventeenth century. In those days it would have been a way for the farmers to avoid taxes on their livestock, which they would have had to pay on the mainland. In addition, on the island the farmers wouldn't have had to comply with laws like fencing laws. There is another theory that sounds more romantic, though. It is the belief that the animals arrived here as survivors of a shipwreck off the coast.
To adapt to the conditions on the island, the animals have become less horse-like and more pony-like. The grazing provides poor nutrition, so these equines are small, only about 13.2 hands in height and about 850 pounds in weight. However, when they get better nutrition, they can become bigger.
The animals have strong legs, especially in the joints and feet, making it easier for them to navigate the sandy soil of the island. Because the marsh grasses are salty, the animals need to drink a lot of water too. They drink twice as much as other equines this size, so that they may look fat or bloated.
The animals come in many different colors. Some are brown and some are black all over. However, the coloring that most buyers want is pinto-patterned with patches of white and brown or black.
On Assateague Island, there are two herds separated by the state line. On the Maryland side, they are known as Assateague horses. This herd belongs to the National Park Service. The animals are treated in the same way as other wild animals except that they get contraceptives. This is to keep their numbers in check and prevent overgrazing.
The herd on the Virginia side is the property and responsibility of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. To keep the herd small, there is a Pony Penning Day every year in July, on the third Wednesday of the month. This involves so-called Saltwater Cowboys rounding up the animals and making them swim to Chincoteague Island, separated from Assateague by a channel. This is followed by an auction of foals. The proceeds go to the fire service and the animals that aren't sold, are returned to Assateague.
Pony Penning Day has become a tourist attraction on the island. In addition, it has become a way for people to buy Chincoteague ponies and return them to the mainland. This means that for many children, having their own Misty will not be a pipe dream.
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