Assateague Island is a barrier island off the Delmarva Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the United States. Delmarva is occupied by most of the State of Delaware as well as parts of Maryland and Virginia. The Assateague horses form a population of feral horses in the Maryland portion of the island. The term, "feral" refers to the fact that they were once domesticated and reverted to a wild life, rather than being fully wild. They are referred to as the Chincoteague ponies on the Virginia side of the island. The two terms are used synonymously herein.
There is a certain amount of controversy as to whether these animals are horses or ponies. The official height distinction between the two classes for competition purposes is 14.2 hands in most countries. This equates to 147 centimeters or 58 inches. There are other controversies surrounding their history on the island.
Although the Chincoteague ponies do fall below the minimum height, there are those who feel the animals display phenotypic features of a horse in other ways. These features include such characteristics as conformation and temperament. Their diminutive stature may be the product of a poor-quality diet as a result of occupying a salt marsh habitat.
Legend has it that the beasts swam to shore from a shipwrecked galleon en route from Spain to Peru, where they were intended for sale to the Viceroy. It is unclear whether the original stock were Moor ponies or Arabian stock. A more mundane story of the animals' heritage is that they were dispatched into the wild by an unscrupulous rancher who wanted to avoid paying livestock tax.
The herd living on the Maryland side of the island, is owned by the Maryland Park Service and consists of around 140 head. The Chincoteague herd dwells on the Virginia side of the island and is owned by Chinoteague Volunteer Fire Department. This herd numbers around 130. The two herds are physically separated by a fence along the Maryland/Virginia border.
Their charming story was captured in book form in the children's novel, "Misty of Chincoteague." The book was penned by Marguerite Henry in 1947 and made into a film in 1961. The book earned the Newbery Honor. The author wrote two sequels to the original story.
There are disputes as to whether Misty was captured in the wild, as in the book, or foaled in domesticity on Chincoteague Island. Chincoteague Island is distinct from Assateague Island, separated by a narrow inlet of water. Both Misty and her offspring, Stormy, were preserved via taxidermy and are now on display at the Beebe Ranch in Chincoteague, Virginia.
Whichever version of events you decide to believe, the story of the Assateague horses is a delightful tale. Today, the National Chincoteague Pony Association (NCPA), based in Bellingham in the State of Washington, works to promote and improve the breed. The fact that they are located on the opposite shore from where they originated just goes to show how widely popular they are.
There is a certain amount of controversy as to whether these animals are horses or ponies. The official height distinction between the two classes for competition purposes is 14.2 hands in most countries. This equates to 147 centimeters or 58 inches. There are other controversies surrounding their history on the island.
Although the Chincoteague ponies do fall below the minimum height, there are those who feel the animals display phenotypic features of a horse in other ways. These features include such characteristics as conformation and temperament. Their diminutive stature may be the product of a poor-quality diet as a result of occupying a salt marsh habitat.
Legend has it that the beasts swam to shore from a shipwrecked galleon en route from Spain to Peru, where they were intended for sale to the Viceroy. It is unclear whether the original stock were Moor ponies or Arabian stock. A more mundane story of the animals' heritage is that they were dispatched into the wild by an unscrupulous rancher who wanted to avoid paying livestock tax.
The herd living on the Maryland side of the island, is owned by the Maryland Park Service and consists of around 140 head. The Chincoteague herd dwells on the Virginia side of the island and is owned by Chinoteague Volunteer Fire Department. This herd numbers around 130. The two herds are physically separated by a fence along the Maryland/Virginia border.
Their charming story was captured in book form in the children's novel, "Misty of Chincoteague." The book was penned by Marguerite Henry in 1947 and made into a film in 1961. The book earned the Newbery Honor. The author wrote two sequels to the original story.
There are disputes as to whether Misty was captured in the wild, as in the book, or foaled in domesticity on Chincoteague Island. Chincoteague Island is distinct from Assateague Island, separated by a narrow inlet of water. Both Misty and her offspring, Stormy, were preserved via taxidermy and are now on display at the Beebe Ranch in Chincoteague, Virginia.
Whichever version of events you decide to believe, the story of the Assateague horses is a delightful tale. Today, the National Chincoteague Pony Association (NCPA), based in Bellingham in the State of Washington, works to promote and improve the breed. The fact that they are located on the opposite shore from where they originated just goes to show how widely popular they are.
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