Chincoteague ponies are a rare American breed. In total, there is probably less than 3,000 Chincoteague ponies in the USA and Canada. Nowadays they form part of an annual event which draws thousands of spectators. The animals actually live on Assateague Island. There is a fence through the middle of the island as Virginia and Maryland share jurisdiction for the land. Wild horses live on both parts of the island.
There are several theories as to how they first came to be there. Some believe Spanish galleons were ship-wrecked offshore and their horses made their way to the islands. A more widely accepted theory is that early settlers released domestic livestock on the islands to avoid having to pay various taxes imposed at the time. However the animals first arrived, they ended up having to adapt to salt water and very little food in order to survive.
Those on Virginian soil belong to the Volunteer Fire Company of Chincoteague. Up to 150 ponies are maintained by the company. Twice a year they are are swum to the neighboring island of Chincoteague where they are examined by veterinarians, given routine vaccinations and treated for any conditions they may have.
On one of these occasions, after routine treatment, the horses are paraded through the streets to the carnival grounds. Here the older foals are sold by auction. The rest of the herd is then swum back to Assateague Island. Depending on the tide and weather, this happens on the last Wednesday in July.
There are several privately owned herds. The Annual Pony Swim and Penning is a gala event, attracting many thousands who watch the Pony Swim. The first foal to reach the island is raffled and is given the name of King or Queen Neptune.
Penning on the islands was first recorded in 1835. The channel was first swum by the ponies in 1925. This was celebrated as a gala day and the tradition has grown from year to year. The Pony Swim and Auction is now big business, attracting many viewers who come to watch and to enjoy the fun and festivities of the carnival.
Left to themselves, there would be much inbreeding and ecological damage caused by the Chincoteague ponies. Selling off the young stock helps keeps numbers manageable. Instead of being allowed to breed year after year, mares are given a contraceptive which gives them a break from continually raising foals. Conformation defects and congenital conditions were once quite common due to inbreeding. The judicious introduction of stallions of other breeds has helped improve the quality of the animals. A characteristic of the breed is its bloated appearance. This is due to drinking salt water and eating poor quality vegetation.
Domesticated Chincoteague ponies tend to be taller than their feral counterparts because of the better nutrition they receive. Heights range from 13 to 15 hands high. A hand is four inches. There are a great number of pintos and paints and these eye-catching colors are sought after by breeders. The native stock have kind temperaments and are easy to train. Tough and hardy, they have dense bone and hard hooves. Shaggy, thick manes and tails protect them from the cold. They are easily trained and are used as children's ponies as well as for driving, trail-riding and hunting.
There are several theories as to how they first came to be there. Some believe Spanish galleons were ship-wrecked offshore and their horses made their way to the islands. A more widely accepted theory is that early settlers released domestic livestock on the islands to avoid having to pay various taxes imposed at the time. However the animals first arrived, they ended up having to adapt to salt water and very little food in order to survive.
Those on Virginian soil belong to the Volunteer Fire Company of Chincoteague. Up to 150 ponies are maintained by the company. Twice a year they are are swum to the neighboring island of Chincoteague where they are examined by veterinarians, given routine vaccinations and treated for any conditions they may have.
On one of these occasions, after routine treatment, the horses are paraded through the streets to the carnival grounds. Here the older foals are sold by auction. The rest of the herd is then swum back to Assateague Island. Depending on the tide and weather, this happens on the last Wednesday in July.
There are several privately owned herds. The Annual Pony Swim and Penning is a gala event, attracting many thousands who watch the Pony Swim. The first foal to reach the island is raffled and is given the name of King or Queen Neptune.
Penning on the islands was first recorded in 1835. The channel was first swum by the ponies in 1925. This was celebrated as a gala day and the tradition has grown from year to year. The Pony Swim and Auction is now big business, attracting many viewers who come to watch and to enjoy the fun and festivities of the carnival.
Left to themselves, there would be much inbreeding and ecological damage caused by the Chincoteague ponies. Selling off the young stock helps keeps numbers manageable. Instead of being allowed to breed year after year, mares are given a contraceptive which gives them a break from continually raising foals. Conformation defects and congenital conditions were once quite common due to inbreeding. The judicious introduction of stallions of other breeds has helped improve the quality of the animals. A characteristic of the breed is its bloated appearance. This is due to drinking salt water and eating poor quality vegetation.
Domesticated Chincoteague ponies tend to be taller than their feral counterparts because of the better nutrition they receive. Heights range from 13 to 15 hands high. A hand is four inches. There are a great number of pintos and paints and these eye-catching colors are sought after by breeders. The native stock have kind temperaments and are easy to train. Tough and hardy, they have dense bone and hard hooves. Shaggy, thick manes and tails protect them from the cold. They are easily trained and are used as children's ponies as well as for driving, trail-riding and hunting.
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