THE ASSITIGUE PONY'S

            

The assiteague pony originated on the assiteague island. it is a feral breed of pony that still lives on the island today.  there are two different herds of ponys. Theres the virginia herd and the maryland herd. The maryland herd is owned by the national park service. The virginia herd is managed by the chincoteague volunteer fire department. The cool part about both of these herds is they are some of the only free ranging herds in the united states. The virginia  herd is allowed to live on the island under pernmision of the fish and wild life service. This is because of a grant of a free graising permit. This permit allows 150 adult  ponys to live on the island. About 45 fouls are born on the island every year. The pony's them selfs do not come from the island of assiteague. They actual come from a island off the shore. How this works is once a year is the men of the town get on there horses and take a boat to  the island. and round up the horses and amazingly they ride through the water back the island of assitigue. with the wild horses. the end.


information on the breed and there living situation provided byhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chincoteague_Pony

information on pening day provided by Misty of Chincoteague book writer marguerit henry