Copyright  14 September 2007

ABOUT THE BREED

 

 

                 The Chincoteague Pony holds a special place in our cultural heritage and natural history.  Their story of surviving calamity and thriving under the harshest of conditions resonates with our national identity. 

 

                 Marguerite Henry’s classic children’s book, “Misty of Chincoteague”, has introduced millions of readers to the Chincoteague Pony and, for many of us, forged our image of the quintessential pony. 

 

                 The legend tells of a Spanish galleon foundering off the East Coast in the mid-17th Century.  The horses aboard were bound for Panama and may have included breeds favored by the Spaniards:  Arabian, Andalusian, Spanish Barb (as mounts for the colonial elite), along with Welsh Ponies (used for work in the gold mines).  Equine survivors of the wreck swam ashore on the barrier island of Assateague, off the coast of Maryland and Virginia.  The hardiest and cleverest horses weathered the Atlantic storms, learning how to scrape a living from the windswept islands.  As their descendents adapted to island life they became smaller, balancing their needs against what the islands could provide.

 

                 Chincoteague Ponies still live wild in preserves on Assateague and Chincoteague Islands.  To control the population on these small reservations, mares and foals are herded across a saltwater channel to the mainland each year in the annual “pony penning”.  After veterinary inspection, the mares are herded back to the island and a few lucky bidders acquire the foals at auction.  These ponies often grow taller than their island cousins, and thrive as athletes, pets, or breeding stock. 

 

                 Prized the world over for their gentle temperament and trainability, these exceptional ponies often attain over 14 hands, making them an excellent choice for riders of all ages and experience.  Friendly and “people-orientated”, they are loyal, calm, tolerant and attentive -- suitable for a child’s first mount or as an eager partner in competition.  Chincoteague Ponies and Sportpony crosses are shown in multiple disciplines, from driving to dressage, and many compete in more than one sport.

 

                 Adaptable, friendly, curious, intelligent, capable, and willing to work, these athletic small horses excel at whatever task is asked of them.  If this sounds too good to be true, there’s even more:  the ultimate “easy keepers”, Chincoteague Ponies are hardy, strong, with good feet and teeth, and an excellent winter coat (should they need it!).