Ponies Photo Gallery

The most famous residents of Assateague Island are the ponies.  The ponies of Assateague on the Maryland half of the island and maintained by the National Park Service.  There are currently 173 in this herd and some of them are pictured below.  There is a fence at the Virginia border that separates this herd from the Virginia-side herds of Assateague.  Each year the Virginia herd is rounded-up and auctioned on Chincoteague by the volunteer fire department, who also maintain the Virginia herd.

These wild ponies live about 15 years and subside on marsh grasses.  In the summer, when the park is crowded, they tend to stay in the marshes and desolate sections of the park.  But they were out when we were there.  Click on any photo below for a larger image.

	MJ discussing ponies with Ranger
Though they beg, the rangers enforce a no feed - no touch policy.