Chincoteague ponies actually spend their lives on Assateague Island. The breed is quite rare with perhaps a total of around 3,000 being kept in Canada and the USA. The island is bisected by a stout fence which forms the boundary between Virginia and Maryland. Those on the Virginian side take part in an annual spectacle which is viewed by thousands of tourists.
There is some controversy about how the horses came to be on the islands. Some believe they swam to the islands from Spanish galleons which were wrecked offshore. Others believe pioneer settlers placed domestic livestock on the islands to avoid having to pay taxes. Survival was, and is, difficult for the animals. They have learnt to tolerate sea water. The sparse vegetation is unpalatable and of poor quality.
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.
One of these journeys takes place on the last Wednesday in July. The horses are swum over and, after a rest, they become part of a parade through the streets. At the carnival grounds, the older foals are auctioned to the public. This keeps the number of horses on the island to manageable limits. Within a couple of days, the animals not sold are returned to Assateague.
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.
The animals now range between 13 and 15 hands high (a hand is four inches) and are tough and hardy. They have kind temperaments as a rule and are ideal for a number of equestrian disciplines. Solid colors are found but many are broken-colored. These pintos or paints are prized by breeders. They are generally easy to train and economical to keep. Their conformation varies somewhat but most have good, dense bone with straight legs and sound hooves. The mane and tail are thick and dense, providing good protection during cold weather. Because they are better fed, domesticated Chincoteague ponies tend to grow taller than their wild counterparts.
There is some controversy about how the horses came to be on the islands. Some believe they swam to the islands from Spanish galleons which were wrecked offshore. Others believe pioneer settlers placed domestic livestock on the islands to avoid having to pay taxes. Survival was, and is, difficult for the animals. They have learnt to tolerate sea water. The sparse vegetation is unpalatable and of poor quality.
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.
One of these journeys takes place on the last Wednesday in July. The horses are swum over and, after a rest, they become part of a parade through the streets. At the carnival grounds, the older foals are auctioned to the public. This keeps the number of horses on the island to manageable limits. Within a couple of days, the animals not sold are returned to Assateague.
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.
The animals now range between 13 and 15 hands high (a hand is four inches) and are tough and hardy. They have kind temperaments as a rule and are ideal for a number of equestrian disciplines. Solid colors are found but many are broken-colored. These pintos or paints are prized by breeders. They are generally easy to train and economical to keep. Their conformation varies somewhat but most have good, dense bone with straight legs and sound hooves. The mane and tail are thick and dense, providing good protection during cold weather. Because they are better fed, domesticated Chincoteague ponies tend to grow taller than their wild counterparts.
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