Legends abound, as to the origins of the Chincoteague Ponies, on Assateague and Chiconteague Islands, but regardless
they have become an international phenomenon attracting 40,000 plus admirers, for the annual Pony Swim.

 

Saltwater Cowboys and the Chincoteague
Island Pony Experience

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

The various bands of Chincoteague Ponies are gathered by the Saltwater Cowboys, the week before the Pony Swim,
on their Assateague Island habitat and penned.

 

No one knows for sure the exact origin of the Assateague and Chinconteague Island ponies. Several theories and legends abound as to their orgins, from the most romantic one of a Spanish Galleon, carrying horses to the colonies of South America, that shipwrecked off the island in the late 1500's, to pirates "stashing" captured ponies in a safe haven on the island. However, the most probable orgin would be from early landowners, who used the islands to navigate the fencing laws on the mainland, running livestock on the natural islands where fencing was not required and the waters served as natural barriers.

 

Individual stallions group their bands in the pens and fight off others
to protect their territory.

 

Nevertheless, both Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia, and Chinconteague Island, Virginia, now have their own herds of feral horses. The Assateague Island ponies are not monitored near as closely as the Chinconteague owned herd. The ponies were brought to national acclaim when Marguarite Henry wrote the famous children's book, "Misty of Chincoteague" in 1947, about a young colt rescued by children, Paul and Maurene Beebe. The book was awarded the Newberry Honor for children's literature and a subsequent movie was produced in the 1960's about Misty and her famous band of horses.

 

 

"Misty" reached national acclaim, when she was purchased by Henry and used as a promotional tool for the book and movie, charming children all over the U.S. and in foreign countries. Subsequent books, by Henry, included: "Stormy," about Misty's daughter; "Sea Star," about an island orphaned colt; and "Misty's Twilight" about another descendent of the Island Horses and Misty's line of offspring. Children everywhere learned about the Chincoteague Island horses through these books and developed a love and affection for the little pinto pony.

 

 

The herd of Chincoteague Ponies, now are grazed on the Chincoteague National Refuge Land and are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. Because of land area and a limited food supply, the herd is limited to 150 grown animals and closely monitored for health issues, worming, and the introduction of improved breeding stock to maintain the quality of the herd.

 

 

 

Saltmarsh Cordgrass makes up about 50% of the ponies' diet, on the island, with other grasses, including American Beach Grass, American-three-square-rush, reed phragmites, salt-meadow hay, and even poison ivy leaves and stems, contributing to the diet. During the winter months, the horses will be seen feeding upon "Sea Lettuce" that washed ashore by the strong winds and tides. This plant is very nutritious and contains approximately 25% protein for the herd.

 

 

The ponies graze on the land surrounding the Assateague Lighthouse, that dominates the island. Construction of the first lighthouse was completed in 1852, and was a lighthouse that was 45 foot tall and candles were used to provide a beacon for ships in the area. Then in 1867, the present day lighthouse was constructed at 142 feet tall and offered protection for ships in the area in the Post-Civil War Era to the present.

 

 

 

 

Pony and livestock penning has been a practice on the Assateague and Chincoteague Islands since the earliest settlers ran their livestock there. The practice was begun so that the herds could be "rounded-up," claimed, branded, gelded, and culled, as well as select animals removed for sale and training for domestic uses. However, the actual Pony Swim was begun in 1925, when the herd was given to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, who was desperately in need of funds to provide fire protection for the island. The herd was swam across the channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island and the colts were weaned and sold at auction to raise funds for the fire department, beginning a tradition, that has lasted for the past 84 years. And, with stories developing from "Misty of Chincoteague" and other national notariety, the Annual Chincoteague Island Pony Penning has developed into a modern day phenonmenon, attended by some 40,000 to 50,000 people, from all over the world.

This year's 84th Annual Pony Penning Swim was conducted on July 29, 2009, as the "Saltwater Cowboys," a group of islanders, who have been penning the ponies for generations, rounded-up the ponies on Assateague Island, penned them in holding pens, and got them ready to swim the channel. The "round-up" takes about a week, prior to the swim, as the ponies are located in their native habitats and joined together in the pens, with anticipation for the annual swim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In what has become a tradition, those people from across the world who want to witness the annual event, gather in the pre-dawn hours (many as early as 3:30 a.m.) and secure a spot on the beach. To secure a place on the beach, one must wade the marshes, sinking in the mud, up to their knees, walk through murky and muddy water, and fight the giant mosquitoes that inhabit the marshes, and locate on the beach. Others choose to board boats and watch from the water. However, the "best seat in the house" is obtained by wading the mud and waters.

 

 

 

In my group alone, this year, there were people from Katy, Texas, from London, England, Scotland, and Norway, all intent on getting the best place to witness the swim.

 

Miss Chincoteague 2009, Acie Reid, is shown with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who help with the
Annual Chiconteague Island Pony Swim.

 

The tide determines the exact time that the ponies begin the swim, as they are forced into the water by the Saltwater Cowboys, who crack bullwhips above their heads. When the low tide is accomplished, the U.S. Coast Guard sends out a red flare from the awaiting boat, and the swim begins. Approximately 150 grown animals and the year's foal crop enter the waters and swim approximately 200 yards to the awaiting resting area and crowds on Chincoteague Island. This year's swim took 4 minutes and 21 seconds for the horses to complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department and their volunteer help have already been selling $1.00 chances on King or Queen Neptune, the first colt that hits the shore. This year, it was King Neptune, a beautiful chestnut sorrel horse colt, with a white star in his forehead. The fire department sold over 6,000 chances on the colt. King Neptune was awarded on Wednesday night, July 29th, to a little girl from Massachusetts, who held the winning ticket.

 

 

Following the swim, the horses are rested for one-hour, in a staging area, covered with marsh grasses, and then the Saltwater Cowboys, take them down the streets of the Island of Chincoteage, to the Fair Grounds. There, they are penned for the auction, to take place the next day. Individual stallions, who are ever protective of their own bands of mares and offspring, will be seen embroiled in fights and establishing their own territories, reminding one that these are feral horses and raised in the wild.

 

 

 

 

 

This little girl from Massachusetts was the lucky winner of "King Neptune!"

 

The Chincoteague Pony Auction for 2009 began at 8:00 a.m., on July 30th, at the fairgrounds. Sixty-seven ponies were paraded before the crowd, individually, and grossed $93,900.00, for an average price of $1,401.49 each. This was down from the 2008 auction when gross proceeds were $104,625.00, reflecting the downturn in the economy across the nation. However, top selling animal was a "buyback" colt, purchased for $11,700.00 by the Folsom Family of Thomasville, Georgia, who have purchased two other animals in previous years. The "buyback" provision is animals selected for breeding and maintenance of the herd, and will be returned to the herd, but the buyer names the animal and receives updates on the animal periodically, as they know their donation continues to maintain the Chincoteague Ponies. This year's high selling colt, was from the herd of "Surfer Dude," a 1992 Stallion that had been selected for breeding, on his own inital swim.

 

 

 

 

 

Carnival rides, pony swim t-shirts, and a variety of other activities abound at the fairgrounds, as well as island food, such as oyster fritters, fried and boiled shrimp, steamed crabs, and seafood of almost any description. Another, island tradition is wonderful homemade ice creams, that are served from stands everywhere, in almost any flavor.

 

 

After a day at the carnival, one is sure to want to travel the Main Street of Chincoteague Island and shop in the quaint shops, that offer books, home decor, and other unique items. But, the most spectacular late afternoon activity, is to watch the beautiful island sunset as it glows across the water and lights the sky in hues of pink, blue, and gold!

 

 

 

Restaurants along the beach offer quaint settings and an island ambiance to view the spectacular sunset, while enjoying traditional island fare.

The Chiconteague Pony Penning and Swim, along with the auction and island experience provides something for everyone... fine dinning, trips to the beaches, bicycle rides through the island, shopping, and spectacular sunsets!

 

 

 

 

 

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