The feral Assateague horses that live at Assateague Island National Seashore are known all over the world for their beautiful wildness. They have lived on the barrier island off the coast of Maryland and Virginia since the time the first settlers were arriving in the New World. Legend has it that they are the descendants of ponies that escaped a sinking Spanish galleon. Experts say that their ancestors may have been part of livestock hidden away from mainland tax collectors. Regardless of their history, they are part of the tradition of the area and visitors flock to see them each year.
Though there is one general term for these horses, they are actually grouped into two distinct herds. One is the Maryland herd and the other is the Virginia herd, or the Assateague and Chincoteague. Their names are shared by the the areas they occupy. The two states actually share the seashore area, with the state line dividing it. The Maryland ponies run free and roam as wild animals, while the Virginia group is maintained by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire company.
Because the Maryland horse herd is one of the last wild groups left in the states, they are frequently studied by scientists. They, and the Chincoteague group each have specific behaviors which are unique. These feral animals offer excellent opportunities to see how equines grow, learn and socialize when left to their own devices.
State agencies work to keep the herds population to a manageable number. Approximately 150 is the optimal number for living and eating from the natural island resources. Veterinarians keep the group members well by administering medications, vaccinations and contraceptives. The herds are culled with annual public auctions once a year.
The two organizations that work closely to administer the needs of each herd include the National Park Service and the volunteer fire company members of Chincoteague. But it is the public that has grown to view these horses as national symbols of freedom. Many admirers look to the wild behaviors of these beautiful animals as akin to the early days of exploration and Westward Expansion in the United States. Some preservationists are reluctant for any human intervention to take place at all.
A Pony Patrol roams throughout the barrier island area offering information and education concerning the ponies to the thousands of visitors that come each year. Most important is that no one is allowed to touch or come in contact with these animals in any way. Humans are very likely to be bitten, kicked or even charged at by these wild seashore residents.
When Pony Penning takes place each year, thousands come to see the herds swim the waterway that divides the two herds. Many come to bid for horses that will be auctioned off right after the swim. Everyone who comes is welcomed to attend the annual carnival, too.
The feral Assateague horses are famous for their wild beauty. Many animal rights groups worry over the possibility that too much human contact will eventually create a less than wild herd. Camping on the island areas has brought regular contact between the humans who try to spoil them and the independent animals. Sharing space brings family educational opportunities but it also allows for human injuries on a regular basis. It is the hope of those that protect them, that the herds will continue to enjoy their freedom.
Though there is one general term for these horses, they are actually grouped into two distinct herds. One is the Maryland herd and the other is the Virginia herd, or the Assateague and Chincoteague. Their names are shared by the the areas they occupy. The two states actually share the seashore area, with the state line dividing it. The Maryland ponies run free and roam as wild animals, while the Virginia group is maintained by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire company.
Because the Maryland horse herd is one of the last wild groups left in the states, they are frequently studied by scientists. They, and the Chincoteague group each have specific behaviors which are unique. These feral animals offer excellent opportunities to see how equines grow, learn and socialize when left to their own devices.
State agencies work to keep the herds population to a manageable number. Approximately 150 is the optimal number for living and eating from the natural island resources. Veterinarians keep the group members well by administering medications, vaccinations and contraceptives. The herds are culled with annual public auctions once a year.
The two organizations that work closely to administer the needs of each herd include the National Park Service and the volunteer fire company members of Chincoteague. But it is the public that has grown to view these horses as national symbols of freedom. Many admirers look to the wild behaviors of these beautiful animals as akin to the early days of exploration and Westward Expansion in the United States. Some preservationists are reluctant for any human intervention to take place at all.
A Pony Patrol roams throughout the barrier island area offering information and education concerning the ponies to the thousands of visitors that come each year. Most important is that no one is allowed to touch or come in contact with these animals in any way. Humans are very likely to be bitten, kicked or even charged at by these wild seashore residents.
When Pony Penning takes place each year, thousands come to see the herds swim the waterway that divides the two herds. Many come to bid for horses that will be auctioned off right after the swim. Everyone who comes is welcomed to attend the annual carnival, too.
The feral Assateague horses are famous for their wild beauty. Many animal rights groups worry over the possibility that too much human contact will eventually create a less than wild herd. Camping on the island areas has brought regular contact between the humans who try to spoil them and the independent animals. Sharing space brings family educational opportunities but it also allows for human injuries on a regular basis. It is the hope of those that protect them, that the herds will continue to enjoy their freedom.
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