Wild Horses and Eagle Eye
EAST COAST ROAD TRIP, Chapter 7:
IN WHICH WE LEARN HOW TO WING IT
Built in 1833, the Assateague lighthouse (pictured above) continues to be an active navigational aid.


These barrier islands are a study in contrasts. Chincoteague is densely developed with many shops, vacation rentas, restaurants and all the other features of a beach resort. Assateague was headed in the same direction in the 1950s when some 5,000 private lots were zoned and sold for resort development. A Nor'easter halted the development in 1962, destroying the few existing structures on the island and eradicating roads.
The Assateague Island National Seashore was established in 1965 to preserve the island in a natural state. Assateague remains unpopulated except for its wildlife, most famous of which is the Chincoteague pony.
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Wild horses on Assateague Island |
Descended from domesticated horses that became wild, Chincoteague ponies have been on Assateague Island for about 300 years. The ponies graze in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Because the ponies feed primarily on marsh grasses with a high salt content and drink a lot of water, they often look bloated.
The National Wildlife Service requires that the population of the pony herd be controlled to preserve the environment. In the Maryland portion of the island, this is done with contraception. Virginia ponies are managed by Chincoteague Island, which reduces the herd by auctioning foals each year.
The National Wildlife Service requires that the population of the pony herd be controlled to preserve the environment. In the Maryland portion of the island, this is done with contraception. Virginia ponies are managed by Chincoteague Island, which reduces the herd by auctioning foals each year.