Chincoteague Pony

The Assateague Island (also Chincoteague Pony ) is a North American breed of horse that is native to the Atlantic island of Assateague. There, the ponies live in the wild, but are under human care. Some of the young horses will be sold on a regular basis, so that there are now quite a few Chincoteague growers in the United States. The Chincoteague Pony Breeders Association was founded in 2006.

Among the representatives you will find all colors, but most of Assateague ponies are piebald. Although the Height is only about 122 cm, corresponding to the physique more like the a small horse than a pony. Under careful treatment, the Assateague Island is an intelligent and friendly pony, which is well suited for children.

According to legend, the ponies are descendants of Spanish horses on the island, which could save themselves floating in a shipwreck near the American east coast. Another theory suggests that early settlers from the mainland or the neighboring island of Chincoteague their horses were released there in order to not pay taxes must.

When they became aware of the ponies in the early 1920s, incest phenomena were already clearly ascertainable. However, the harsh conditions on the island attended the other hand, that only the toughest and most frugal animals could survive. Like all wild horses they were under the harsh conditions of life in the course of generations are smaller and therefore tougher. For new blood Welsh ponies, Shetland ponies and Pintos were bred.

Today the ponies are divided into two herds, as the southern part of the island to the U.S. state of Virginia and the northern to the U.S. state of Maryland heard. The herds are separated by a safe wire fence from each other, which divides the island into two parts. The ponies of the Virginia herd are called Chincoteague ponies and belong to the volunteer fire department of Chincoteague. The ponies of the Maryland herd owned by the National Park Service. Both ovens are limited to the number of about 150 adult animals.

The excess Chincoteague young stallions are caught out and floating driven with the help of boats to the neighboring island of Chincoteague, where they are then auctioned annually. The profit is used for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department in and for the preservation of the breed.