The Maryland herd of Assateague Horses, managed by the U.S. Park Service, and the Virginia herd of Chincoteague Ponies, managed by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, have been separate since 1968 when the Park Service took over their management. A fence on the state line separates the two. The original Maryland herd consisted of 21 ponies, 9 stallions and 12 mares, and there has been no deliberate outcrossing into the Maryland herd since. There have been no recorded CVFC ponies transferred to the NPS.
The Maryland Assateague Horses are occasionally called or considered a "purer strain" than the Chincoteague Ponies. Virginia herd outcrossing is much more recent, but there was a lot of outcrossing into what is now the Maryland herd prior the National Park Service taking over their management in 1968. Any breeds crossed into the herds on Assateague prior to 1968 can be considered part of the Assateague Horse bloodline. Shetland, Mustang, Hackney, and Welsh are some of the breeds that can be documented as well as others like Thoroughbred that are likely. Tobiano pinto and cream dilute was introduced through outcrossing prior to 1968.
Assateague Horses frequently cross the state line fence, but they are usually rounded up and returned to Maryland or return on their own. There have been multiple Maryland ponies whose ownership have been transferred to the CVFC. Some were transferred due to being problem horses and others continually crossed the state line fence after being returned.
The Maryland Assateague Horses are occasionally called or considered a "purer strain" than the Chincoteague Ponies. Virginia herd outcrossing is much more recent, but there was a lot of outcrossing into what is now the Maryland herd prior the National Park Service taking over their management in 1968. Any breeds crossed into the herds on Assateague prior to 1968 can be considered part of the Assateague Horse bloodline. Shetland, Mustang, Hackney, and Welsh are some of the breeds that can be documented as well as others like Thoroughbred that are likely. Tobiano pinto and cream dilute was introduced through outcrossing prior to 1968.
Assateague Horses frequently cross the state line fence, but they are usually rounded up and returned to Maryland or return on their own. There have been multiple Maryland ponies whose ownership have been transferred to the CVFC. Some were transferred due to being problem horses and others continually crossed the state line fence after being returned.
The National Wildlife Refuge's 2014 Chincoteague Pony Management Plan states, "On occasion, CVFC also replenished the herd with "problem" ponies from ASIS. These feral horses had been involved with visitor/pony conflicts in the campground areas. Only their offspring were sold. It has been the policy of CVFC to no longer supplement their herd with NPS northern herd animals. These animals proved to be problematic for the Fire Company and the Refuge. However, these animals may have a more direct genetic link to the current Chincoteague ponies than past genetic introductions."
Thanks to Allison Turner for sharing the list of transferred ponies. Read an examination of the Maryland Pony history on Chincoteague Pony History.
Thanks to Allison Turner for sharing the list of transferred ponies. Read an examination of the Maryland Pony history on Chincoteague Pony History.
Transferred in 1984
Ronald Keiper wrote in The Assateague Ponies that in the spring of 1984 a roundup was done of the most problem horses. The selection was based on data that was collected the previous summer. Thirteen ponies were transferred to the CVFC herd.
T2BG 1982 Pinto Stallion
N6AH 1983 Pinto Stallion
N6AG 1982 Pinto Mare
Ronald Keiper wrote in The Assateague Ponies that in the spring of 1984 a roundup was done of the most problem horses. The selection was based on data that was collected the previous summer. Thirteen ponies were transferred to the CVFC herd.
T2BG 1982 Pinto Stallion
N6AH 1983 Pinto Stallion
N6AG 1982 Pinto Mare
Transferred in 1986
N2BE 1980 Chestnut Mare
M15C 1978 Chestnut Mare
M15CJ 1985 Pinto Mare
N6AI 1984 Pinto Mare
Charlie/M17C 1978 Chestnut Stallion
N6A 1976 Pinto Mare
N6AJ 1985 Chestnut Stallion
N2BE 1980 Chestnut Mare
M15C 1978 Chestnut Mare
M15CJ 1985 Pinto Mare
N6AI 1984 Pinto Mare
Charlie/M17C 1978 Chestnut Stallion
N6A 1976 Pinto Mare
N6AJ 1985 Chestnut Stallion
John/M16, Photo from The Island Ponies by Barbara Ford and Ron Keiper
Transferred in 1988
One of the stallions became a problem pony in Virginia and the CVFC may have found him a home off the island. A Daily Times article from July 27, 1989 said that a small brownish or light brown stallion had been sticking his head into cars and running into traffic so the CVFC was thinking of giving him to a farm.
M12A 1976 Pinto Mare
M12AI 1984 Roan Stallion
M12AL 1987 Pinto Filly
T2BEJ 1985 Pinto Stallion
John/J/M16 1973 Chestnut Roan Stallion
M15E 1980 Chestnut Mare
Toby 1987 Chestnut Stallion
Killer 1984 Roan Stallion
T2BEI 1984 Pinto Stallion
T2C 1978 Bay Mare
Spike/T2CK 1986 Bay Stallion
M12AK 1986 Chestnut Mare
One of the stallions became a problem pony in Virginia and the CVFC may have found him a home off the island. A Daily Times article from July 27, 1989 said that a small brownish or light brown stallion had been sticking his head into cars and running into traffic so the CVFC was thinking of giving him to a farm.
M12A 1976 Pinto Mare
M12AI 1984 Roan Stallion
M12AL 1987 Pinto Filly
T2BEJ 1985 Pinto Stallion
John/J/M16 1973 Chestnut Roan Stallion
M15E 1980 Chestnut Mare
Toby 1987 Chestnut Stallion
Killer 1984 Roan Stallion
T2BEI 1984 Pinto Stallion
T2C 1978 Bay Mare
Spike/T2CK 1986 Bay Stallion
M12AK 1986 Chestnut Mare
T5AEJ, from Field Guide to Assateague Horses by John Turner and Jay Kirkpatrick
Transferred in 1989
Aggressor Bay Stallion
Chestnut Mare
Scar Face Chestnut Stallion
Scar Face's Mom Bay Mare
Bay Mare
T6E 1980 Chestnut Mare
T5AEJ 1985 Pinto Stallion
Aggressor Bay Stallion
Chestnut Mare
Scar Face Chestnut Stallion
Scar Face's Mom Bay Mare
Bay Mare
T6E 1980 Chestnut Mare
T5AEJ 1985 Pinto Stallion
Transferred in 1991
Hot Air Balloon/Top Gun/N6BF, a bay tobiano splash stallion, was transferred to the CVFD in 1991 due to being a problem horse. He was named Top Gun by the CVFC and had four daughters kept in the Virginia feral herd. Hot Air Balloon had two daughters in the Maryland feral herd. He has living descendants in both herds.
Hot Air Balloon/Top Gun/N6BF, a bay tobiano splash stallion, was transferred to the CVFD in 1991 due to being a problem horse. He was named Top Gun by the CVFC and had four daughters kept in the Virginia feral herd. Hot Air Balloon had two daughters in the Maryland feral herd. He has living descendants in both herds.
From Field Guide to Assateague Horses by John Turner and Jay Kirkpatrick
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Hot Air Balloon in Virginia. Photo courtesy of Linda Insley.
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Transferred in 1994
Eight of the transferred horses were problem horses and four were young stallions that continually crossed the fence. Five of them were sold at the 1994 Pony Penning auction and the rest remained as part of the feral herd. Cutthroat/N4BM/Cherokee Princess 1988 Bay Tobiano Mare. Known as Cutthroat in Maryland and renamed Cherokee Princess in Virginia. No known descendants in the Virginia feral herd. N9BMP 1991 Chestnut Stallion, Sold at the 1994 auction N4BMP 1991 Bay Stallion, Sold at the 1994 auction Ponella/N4BMQ 1992 Bay Mare M17JO 1990 Pinto Stallion, Sold at the 1994 auction M17GP 1991 Pinto Mare M17GPS 1994 Bay Colt, Sold at the 1994 auction T5AFQ 1992 Pinto Stallion, Sold at the 1994 auction Firestar/N2BHQ 1992 Bay Mare. Two daughters were kept in the feral Virginia herd that died without foaling. N6BJP 1991 Chestnut Stallion N6BKQ 1992 Pinto Stallion T3DHP 1991 Bay Stallion, Sold at 1995 auction X10 Chestnut Stallion |
Cherokee Princess/N4BM
Firestar/N2BHQ in 2015
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Transferred in 1998
Roan Patch/X9/Cherokee Chief, a chestnut tobiano stallion, continually crossed into Virginia after being returned. He was renamed Cherokee Chief by the CVFC. He had nine daughters kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Roan Patch/X9/Cherokee Chief, a chestnut tobiano stallion, continually crossed into Virginia after being returned. He was renamed Cherokee Chief by the CVFC. He had nine daughters kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Cherokee Chief/X9 at the Carnival Grounds
Transferred in 2004
Spirit of Assateague/T3DHS, a chestnut tobiano stallion, continually crossed back into Virginia after being returned. He was renamed Yankee Spirit by the CVFC. He had one son and three daughters kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Glacier/Twister/X24R, a buckskin tobiano stallion was transferred after crossing into Virginia. He was was renamed Twister by the CVFC. He had one son kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Spirit of Assateague/T3DHS, a chestnut tobiano stallion, continually crossed back into Virginia after being returned. He was renamed Yankee Spirit by the CVFC. He had one son and three daughters kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Glacier/Twister/X24R, a buckskin tobiano stallion was transferred after crossing into Virginia. He was was renamed Twister by the CVFC. He had one son kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Spirit of Assateague/T3DHS on Chincoteague
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Glacier/X24R at Pony Penning 2005
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Transferred in 2006
Centaur/T5AGS, a bay stallion, crossed into Virginia and ownership was transferred in 2006. He was renamed Yankee Savage by the CVFC. Centaur was sold at the 2006 auction and was renamed A Perfect Storm. He had one son kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Centaur/T5AGS, a bay stallion, crossed into Virginia and ownership was transferred in 2006. He was renamed Yankee Savage by the CVFC. Centaur was sold at the 2006 auction and was renamed A Perfect Storm. He had one son kept in the feral Virginia herd.
Centaur/T5AGS at Pony Penning 2005
Assateague Horses are usually returned to Maryland when they are rounded up in Virginia. If they continually return then transferring ownership is considered. The individuals pictured below remained Assateague Horses and were re-released in Maryland with no known Chincoteague descendants. While there isn't any hard proof, it's possible that visiting Maryland stallions have bred Chincoteague mares unknowingly. It's also possible that Chincoteague stallions visiting Maryland have done the same.
N9BOX and Tunkan Hoksila/N10OY at Spring Roundup 2004. Photo by Kelly Lidard.
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Bailey/N9BFQX and Marina/N9BFQX-D at Pony Penning 2005. Photo by Jean Bonde.
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