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.
No-one is sure if the horses are descendants of animals which came to the island off wrecked Spanish galleons or if they have descended from livestock put on the island by early settlers to avoid paying the various taxes of the period. The vegetation on the island is sparse and of poor quality. The animals have also become accustomed to drinking sea water.
The Virginian ponies are looked after by the Volunteer Fire Company of Chincoteague. They maintain a herd of around 150 horses. Twice a year they are swum from Assateague to Chincoteague for routine inspection by veterinarians. The horses are inoculated against various diseases and treated for any ailments. They are then swum back to Assateague.
One of these trips takes place on the last Wednesday of July when the majority of the horses are swum to Chincoteague. After being rested for a while, the ponies are driven through the streets to the carnival grounds. The foals from the previous year are auctioned off. This keeps the island population to manageable numbers. Those not sold are then returned to Assateague Island.
There are some privately owned herds. The Fire Company gains funds from the auction. Money is also raised by raffling off the first foal to touch shore after the swim. It is given the name of King Neptune if a colt or Queen Neptune if a filly. Thousands come to watch the Pony Swim and the Penning.
The first recorded penning was in 1835. In 1925, the ponies swam the channel for the first time. The owners would gather together and this gradually developed into a carnival which is run at the same time raising funds for the Chincoteague firemen. The tradition now draws crowds of people to watch the swimming, and to join in the carnival.
Selling off some of the animals prevents excessive damage to the fragile island environment. Inbreeding over a number of years had resulted in some having conformational defects and inherited conditions. The quality of the horses has been improved by the introduction of other breeds. Some mares are darted with a contraceptive to prevent them being bred every year. Chincoteague ponies have a characteristic bloated appearance from drinking salt water.
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.
No-one is sure if the horses are descendants of animals which came to the island off wrecked Spanish galleons or if they have descended from livestock put on the island by early settlers to avoid paying the various taxes of the period. The vegetation on the island is sparse and of poor quality. The animals have also become accustomed to drinking sea water.
The Virginian ponies are looked after by the Volunteer Fire Company of Chincoteague. They maintain a herd of around 150 horses. Twice a year they are swum from Assateague to Chincoteague for routine inspection by veterinarians. The horses are inoculated against various diseases and treated for any ailments. They are then swum back to Assateague.
One of these trips takes place on the last Wednesday of July when the majority of the horses are swum to Chincoteague. After being rested for a while, the ponies are driven through the streets to the carnival grounds. The foals from the previous year are auctioned off. This keeps the island population to manageable numbers. Those not sold are then returned to Assateague Island.
There are some privately owned herds. The Fire Company gains funds from the auction. Money is also raised by raffling off the first foal to touch shore after the swim. It is given the name of King Neptune if a colt or Queen Neptune if a filly. Thousands come to watch the Pony Swim and the Penning.
The first recorded penning was in 1835. In 1925, the ponies swam the channel for the first time. The owners would gather together and this gradually developed into a carnival which is run at the same time raising funds for the Chincoteague firemen. The tradition now draws crowds of people to watch the swimming, and to join in the carnival.
Selling off some of the animals prevents excessive damage to the fragile island environment. Inbreeding over a number of years had resulted in some having conformational defects and inherited conditions. The quality of the horses has been improved by the introduction of other breeds. Some mares are darted with a contraceptive to prevent them being bred every year. Chincoteague ponies have a characteristic bloated appearance from drinking salt water.
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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