Mention Chincoteague Island, Virginia, and you’re likely to be asked, “Isn’t that the place where those ponies are?” The answer is yes. The narrow spit of land and nearby Assateague Island became famous as home to a herd of wild ponies in 1947, when the popular children’s book “Misty of Chincoteague” was published. A 1961 movie spread the story even further.
During my visit, I was immersed in stories about the ponies, including the annual penning and sale. Each summer since 1925, ponies have been rounded up and those strong enough to swim herded into the narrowest part of the channel that separates Assateague and Chincoteague. The next day the foals—those less than a year old—are sold at auction during some spirited bidding. The remaining ponies spend another night in town and swim back to their home on Assateague Island the next day.
If you'd prefer to miss the large crowds that gather for that annual event and see the ponies in their natural setting, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. They are often visible as they graze near designated viewing areas in the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge.
I also enjoyed sightings during a water tour. The boat passed clam and oyster beds in the shallows, and I spotted bald eagles and other birds circling overhead. There are other ways to get up close and personal with the ponies, too. At the Chincoteague Pony Center, descendants of Misty are available for riding and lessons. Wildlife bus tours offered from April through November carry passengers into areas closed to other vehicles and include pony sightings on every trip.
Misty fans also won’t want to miss the Museum of Chincoteague Island. Exhibits explore the local history, culture, and people. They include interesting stories about the oystering industry, which employs many island residents, and descriptions of ornamental waterfowl and land-bird decoy carving, for which the area is equally well-known.
