Assateague horses are wild and are well known by those who have not even been to the beautiful island. These horses are in fact undomesticated. This may mean that they are in fact descendants of other domestic horses. Here, they live naturally, together in accordance with the conditions of Mother Nature.
They suffer from a variety of unfortunate problems such as, poor quality food, stormy weather, scorching conditions and in some cases an abundance of mosquitoes. The beauty of these animals can be enjoyed from a distance, and by doing your part in keeping the island clean and free of litter, you can help protect these spectacular animals. They roam freely for all to see, and are easily identified by their quizzical natures.
In the general folklore it is said that these pristine animals were the survivors of a shipwreck just off the Virginia coast. Unfortunately, the legend of their hardships and suffering was not recorded and remains a mystery. A likely explanation is that these ponies were probably brought by their owners from the barrier islands.
With beautiful Virginia on the one side of Assateague and Maryland on the other, this breed is split into two herds. The state line between Maryland and Virginia is separated by a fence. They have split themselves into herds of roughly two to twelve animals. A different home range is occupied by these herds. The ponies roaming Virginia are commonly known as the "Chincoteague" herd.
Marguerite Henry's book, titled "Misty of Chincoteague" teaches many visitors about the happenings of these stunning animals. The book is set around a traditional festival of Chincoteague which is called "Pony Penning". The last Wednesday of July sees these animals being swum from the island to Virginia. The next day the foals are auctioned off and the proceeds go to the island's Volunteer Fire Department.
During the blazing hot summer, these stallions tend to get highly irritated and fight. They are prepared to dual to the death, warding off any other animal that comes close to their harem. These animals are very protective over their herds, not permitting any stragglers to get too close.
These awesome animals are hardy, spectacular and untamed. They live in a challenging environment which takes its toll on them. Feeding and petting is not a very good approach, as the animals easily become ill from human foodstuff. They may seem quite tame and familiar with people, and often wander up to the streets to look for food. This is not a good idea, as a great number of horses are killed by vehicles traveling on the roads.
There are many places in the United States where wild horses are on view to the public. This particular breed exhibits a range of unique behaviors. Take any opportunity possible to see these wonderful creatures. Nature lovers and photographers can take advantage of their time with these beautiful animals. Seeing these horses in their natural habitat makes one understand the order of things in nature. These fantastic Assateague horses are as close as you will get to understanding what life is all about.
They suffer from a variety of unfortunate problems such as, poor quality food, stormy weather, scorching conditions and in some cases an abundance of mosquitoes. The beauty of these animals can be enjoyed from a distance, and by doing your part in keeping the island clean and free of litter, you can help protect these spectacular animals. They roam freely for all to see, and are easily identified by their quizzical natures.
In the general folklore it is said that these pristine animals were the survivors of a shipwreck just off the Virginia coast. Unfortunately, the legend of their hardships and suffering was not recorded and remains a mystery. A likely explanation is that these ponies were probably brought by their owners from the barrier islands.
With beautiful Virginia on the one side of Assateague and Maryland on the other, this breed is split into two herds. The state line between Maryland and Virginia is separated by a fence. They have split themselves into herds of roughly two to twelve animals. A different home range is occupied by these herds. The ponies roaming Virginia are commonly known as the "Chincoteague" herd.
Marguerite Henry's book, titled "Misty of Chincoteague" teaches many visitors about the happenings of these stunning animals. The book is set around a traditional festival of Chincoteague which is called "Pony Penning". The last Wednesday of July sees these animals being swum from the island to Virginia. The next day the foals are auctioned off and the proceeds go to the island's Volunteer Fire Department.
During the blazing hot summer, these stallions tend to get highly irritated and fight. They are prepared to dual to the death, warding off any other animal that comes close to their harem. These animals are very protective over their herds, not permitting any stragglers to get too close.
These awesome animals are hardy, spectacular and untamed. They live in a challenging environment which takes its toll on them. Feeding and petting is not a very good approach, as the animals easily become ill from human foodstuff. They may seem quite tame and familiar with people, and often wander up to the streets to look for food. This is not a good idea, as a great number of horses are killed by vehicles traveling on the roads.
There are many places in the United States where wild horses are on view to the public. This particular breed exhibits a range of unique behaviors. Take any opportunity possible to see these wonderful creatures. Nature lovers and photographers can take advantage of their time with these beautiful animals. Seeing these horses in their natural habitat makes one understand the order of things in nature. These fantastic Assateague horses are as close as you will get to understanding what life is all about.
