Chincoteague pony

The Chincoteague pony, also known as the Assateague horse, is an American feral herd on Assateague Island of Virginia and Maryland. The breed was made famous by the Misty of Chincoteague novels, written by Marguerite Henry, and first published in 1947. Although popularly known as Chincoteague ponies, the feral ponies live on Assateague Island which is owned by the US government and is split by a fence at the Maryland–Virginia state line. A herd of around 150 ponies are maintained on the Virginia side of the fence, and 80 on the Maryland side. The two herds are managed by separate agencies. The Maryland herd (referred to in the literature of the National Park Service as Assateague horses) live within Assateague Island National Seashore. They are generally treated as wild animals, given no more or less assistance than any other species on the island, other than contraceptive treatments to curb overpopulation. Conversely, the Virginia herd (referred to as Chincoteague ponies) live within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. The Virginia ponies are treated to twice-yearly veterinary inspections, which prepare them for life among the domestic equine population if they are sold at auction. While only around 300 feral ponies live on Assateague Island, around 1,000 more live off-island, having been purchased or bred by private owners. In 2023, the Code of Virginia § 1-510 was amended to name the Chincoteague Pony breed as the designated pony of Virginia by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia.