All States have their areas of natural beauty. Maryland is no exception. Out on the Eastern Shore of Maryland is a wonderful little island, operated and maintained by the National Park Service, Assateague Island.
This paradise island is a place to enjoy white sandy beaches, take Marsh and Forest tours, study ecology, camping, and of course, a visit with the Wild Ponies.
There are two herds of Wild Ponies on Assateague Island. They have the run of the island and we humans are just visitors. There is a sister island in Virginia, Chincoteague Island, which also has its own herd of Wild Ponies.
The Assateague Wild Ponies have adapted to an environment which is not common to their domesticated partners. Their diet consists of Marsh and Dune grasses. On Assateague Island, there is plenty of fresh water, both natural and provided by the National Park Service, and the ponies know just where to quench their thirst. Summer months can be very hot and unforgiving. This year has been especially brutal.
The island has a bounty of bird life in addition to the famous ponies. Great Blue Herons, Egrets, Wigeons, and others can be found in the Marshes, forest areas, and on the water.
Enter the parking lot and the Wild Ponies will frequently be there to greet you. Probably looking for a handout.
Egrets catching a ride. They may be keeping the fly's from bothering the horses.
A new foal destined for an interesting life on Assateague Island.
Cars wait for the Wild Ponies, not the other way around.
I wasn't able to get any pictures of the horses on the beach with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. That just gives me another excuse to go back to Assateague Island.
If you're in the area you should explore Assateague Island. Be prepared to walk the Marsh, Forest and Dune trails. Stay clear of the Wild Ponies though. They are cute, but they are wild, and not all that friendly.
All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2010 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.
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Rich Iarossi is a full time licensed REALTOR®, working in Crofton, MD. My coverage areas are: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Howard, Calvert, Queen Anne, and Baltimore City and County. I specialize in residential real estate, working with both buyers and sellers. Use the registration free search on my website at www.RichSellsHomes.com. If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®...I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 (Cell) or 410-451-6255 (Office).
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Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great place to visit.
This sounds like an awesome place to visit. One of these days I need to get to the Eastern Shore for a visit.
Richard, sounds and looks like a great place to visit. How far are the hotels etc. from the park.
What wonderful memories, I spent a lot of time with my son on the island when he was young. He still talks about his time spent on Assateague Island. What a great place and nice post.
What a great pictorial view of the wild ponies of Assateague Island.
Spectacularly photographed Richard.
We moved to Florida from Maryland and always enjoyed our time on Assateague Island. Thanks for bringing back great memories and I especially enjoyed your photos! I just saw a news clip on the ponies yesterday.
Richard:
It is nice to see these ponies running freely and enjoying themselves. This looks like a beautiful area. I would love to see it.
ROY: Thanks.
STACEY ANN: The Eastern Shore is wonderful. I'm surprised you haven't been out there.
AL/PEGGY: It's not far from Ocean City Maryland which is loaded with hotels/motels.
DIANE: It is pretty special. I'm sure kids find it wonderful.
CRAIG: Thanks my friend.
BARBARA: I hope you enjoyed the pics.
CLAUDETTE: The dune walk was a killer. It was close to 100 degrees that day.
Great pictures! Many years ago I went camping on the northern part of Assateague (near Ocean City) for a weekend. It was very primitive camping. The nearest water was 3 miles up the beach and we were sunburned and had sand in our food and sleeping bags. Of course, 14 year olds don't care and we had a wonderful time.
I was also able to take my girls to Chincateague once and we went over to the wildlife refuge. They were always fans of the "Misty of Chincateague" books as I was when I was small.
Beautiful pictures! It's been years since I've been to Assateague
It's definitely time for another visit. Thank you.
NIce post....I've "heard of" the horses and ponies, but never really seen them, or pictures of them. Thanks for sharing.
What a fantastic idea for a post. I read the pony crossing books as a child. I went a few years back and saw the event . You really captured the beauty.
Richard, we visited Assateague Island a couple of years ago. A great to visit and spend some time. Thanks.
Rich, Assateague Island looks like a great place to visit and the ponies are indeed beautiful! There are also wild horses in the Nevada desert and what a sight they are!
Great post. Keep up the good work.
I've seen those ponies on PBS from time to time. Was in Maryland a year ago and wish we had gone there. Saw some wild horses in North Dakota two years ago. I walked out in the field toward them, but my wife kept calling me back. Three or four of the herd seemed to be watching me. Very mystic like.
Rich, Beautiful! Would love to visit your part of the country!
Seeing animals in this type of environment is extremely enriching as you can see them roam and live in a much more natural habitat.
Richard, great post on a local place. I like the pictures. Well done...
When I was a kid I was obsessed with horses and read some books that were set on Assateague and (is there another close-by island called) Chincoteague. I L.O.V.E.D those books. Need to find them again - thanks for the reminder.
Thank you for posting this article. Never having been to your neck of the woods, I found this really interesting.
Do the ponies have any natural enemies? How do their populations stay under control?
The "Misty" books were among my treasured possessions of childhood, read dozens of times. Much to my surprise, when I moved to Wayne, IL I learned that Misty was a real pony and that Marguerite Henry wrote her books in a little yellow house on Army Trail Road. Right down the road is Misty's Meadow, a small field that the Village maintains as a wildflower meadow.
Thanks for the photos of the real live wild ponies. Good for a Monday morning smile.
PAUL & DIANE: Lots of folks have commented on the childrens books. I've never seen them. One of the campgrounds I saw looked like it was right near the beach.
NELLIE: Come on back.
JOYE: They're more famous than I thought.
CHERYL: You can actually visit too. Almost as pretty as Southern MD.
MIKE: It really is a wonderful natural resource.
WANDA: We kind of expect to see wild ponies in the West. Pretty unusual for around here though.
@KEN: Thanks for stopping by.
@GLENN: We're encouraged to stay away from these ponies. They can get ornery.
@DEBORAH: If you've never visited the East Coast, you're in for a treat.
@MORGAN: Much better than in a zoo.
@MIKE: Thanks. Coming from you that's a real compliment.
@JULIA: Chincoteague is just a stone's skip away in Virginia.
@KATHY: I don't believe there are any natural enemies in that protected environment. I'm not sure about Assateague, but in Chincoteague, they actually sell some of them each year.
@LESLIE: I never read the books as a kid. Something to look into for my grandson though.
Richard,
When I first saw the post, I misread it as peonies, what a nice surprise to see ponies and egrets. What a gorgeous, gorgeous sight of wild horses. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Richard, this is a very cool place! All the pictures are wonderful, especially interesting seeing the birds hanging out with the ponies.
Have a great week!
Richard,
I was stationed at Ft. Meade back in the 70's and had no idea this island existed. I used to fly out to Tangiers Island for lunch sometimes.
Some times it nice to see how 99.9% of the rest of the country lives or looks like...
You are one lucky person Rich!
Paul
Hi Richard,
I spent my first 17 years growing up in Maryland. I went there when I was a kid. Thanks for reminding me about my memories.
I have to go back for a visit and bring my 3 kids.
What an amazing place! Next time I go back east this will be a scheduled stop for sure! Thank you so much for sharing!
Oh how gorgeous! Haven't ever had time to visit the east coast for pleasure (always working, working!), but you make a compelling case!
Richard~ Assateague Island sounds like my kind of place. I could sit and watch wild horses all day long if given the chance. I love your photos and thank you for sharing this great place with us!
Rich...
Incredible shots from a very special place. Thanks for sharing these with us.
Rich - those are great photos and the area looks beautiful. Definitely looks like a great place to visit.
Rich - those are great photos and the area looks beautiful. Definitely looks like a great place to visit.
Beautiful Pics and Area! Brings back memories from all the stories/books of Misty and the like.
Rich to Rich
Anything in the wild or being free....does it for me. How beautiful to behold whatever it is. I found a Bees nest once and you cannot help but appreciate the effort and intelligence that went into it. Those wild horses roam around eating and drinking bothering no one and..... leave a little fertilizer behind as their gift. Life can be that simple.....thank you
Truly a sight to see, at least once in a lifetime... Thanks for sharing these beautiful horses with us..
Richard, they have adapted well to the feed available on the Island, our wild ponies here in the West don't look anywhere near that good!
I'm gonna have to drive down to see this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Richard- I've been visiting Assateague for years now. It's an amazing spot. I'm always slightly surprised by how short and stocky the wild horses are in person... while your pictures seem to make them long and lean. Can I have your camera? ;-)
I wish I had known about this place when I was out in Maryland in May. It looks so beautiful. Sorry I missed it-guess I have to make it to the East Coast again soon. Thanks for sharing.
BREATHTAKING!!
Rich,
I've enjoyed camping both at Assateague and Chincoteague. The ponies try hard to steal all the attention but the beaches are wonderful too. Your pictures made me yearn for another visit!
I too loved the book Misty...about the ponies! Great photos, thanks for making me a kid again for a few minutes!
Great information, and I have seen the wild mustangs in our western states, I never knew that you had ponies in Maryland - love the photos! ~ Susan
Rich Great photos - the best time to catch the ponies on the beach is in the evening - you gotta' go bck
Richard - What a great post. I love your photos of the wild ponies. It makes me feel like I personally visited. A photo of the ponies on the beach would be beautiful. You must go back.
Assateague Island and the beaches are great. I remember going there a couple times as a kid and camping out at Frontier Town.