Chincoteague Ponies born off the island or born on the island and returned to the feral herd. Reportedly in the 80's a stallion owned by a local firefighter was turned out in the herd for part of the year. The Chincoteagues can often bring in lines no longer in the feral herd or other breed outcrosses. Many of the ponies have adapt well to living feral on Assateague while many others struggle to adapt.
The most famous instance of ponies returning is after the 1962 nor'easter where many Chincoteague were brought back to replenish the feral herd after 55 ponies died in the storm. Pony Committee chairman Don Leonard was quoted in the Virginian-Pilot in July 1962 that 41 ponies were purchased to replenish their herd. The fire company purchased 32 ponies in April 1962 from G.G. Dobbins of Pulaski County, Virginia. His ponies were from 12 he had purchased at Pony Penning 1956.
The Virginian Pilot on April 18, 1962
The fire company purchased the herd of Donald and Wanda Thornton of Chincoteague in the 1960s. The Thornton's had a herd of 30 ponies that lived at their Pine Grove Campground property.
Rainbow Warrior
Rainbow Warrior appears to have been donated back. He was born on Assateague in 1995 but was not photographed on Assateague again until 1999. Reportedly a person recognized him years later as a colt she had donated back, although the year was wrong. Rainbow Warrior had one son and three daughters kept in the feral herd.
Witch Doctor
Witch Doctor was sold at the 1987 auction and was returned as a yearling or a 2 year old as he was photographed at Pony Penning 1989. Witch Doctor was a feral stallion for many years. He had the nickname "The New York Stud" from the state he returned from. Witch Doctor had eight daughters kept for the feral herd.
Daisey
Daisey was sold at the 2004 auction to Don Thornton who donated her back to the feral herd in 2012. She was supposed to have been a child's pony but didn't have the temperament for it. Daisey has had two daughters, one short lived, kept for the feral herd.
Chaos
Yankee Savage or Chaos was born in the 2000's and donated back in 2008. He did not adapt well to living as as a feral stallion and fought constantly with other stallions, which earned him the name Chaos. He was sold at the 2009 auction. He had one daughter that was kept in the feral herd.
Mystery
Mystery was born on Assateague in 2003 and donated back spring 2009. She had one daughter that was kept for the feral herd.
Baybe
Fuzzy Peaches and Baybe were donated to the feral herd in 2011 by the Leonard Family of Chincoteague. Fuzzy Peaches did not adapt and died spring 2013 with no offspring kept. Baybe had three daughters kept in the feral herd. Baybe died on Assateague on April 6, 2024.
WH Windy's Beach Boy
WH Windy's Beach Boy was sold to the CVFC in August 2015 by his breeder, Dr. Jim Beach of Pennsylvania. He is a great great great grandson of Misty of Chincoteague and is the first traceable descendant to live feral on Assateague. Two of his 2022 daughters CLG Misty's Lunar Eclipse and Miss Holy Smokes have been kept for the feral herd.
WH Surf and Sun, Chili, WH Summer Breeze, WH Wildfire, Winter Moon.
Dr. Beach sold six mares and one colt to the fire company in spring 2018. The mares are Misty great great great grandfoals WH Night Rain, WH Summer Breeze, WH Sundance, WH Wildfire, Winter Moon, and great great great great grandfoal WH Surf and Sun. The colt Misty's Double Platinum did not adapt and was removed from the island the following summer. Chili was born on Chincoteague in 2016 and was sold back in 2018. Chili had a son kept for the herd in 2023. Two daughters of Winter Moon have been kept for the feral herd, one died as a 2 year old. WH Night Rain died winter 2021 without foaling. WH Sundance died fall 2021 and her filly that year was kept for the herd. WH Wildfire died May 2, 2024 and her filly that year was kept for the herd.
WH Sundance
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WH Night Rain and Misty's Double Platinum
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Tidewater Treasure, Millennium Midnight, and Good Ole Days Baileys Star were donated to the feral herd in December 2018. Tidewater Treasure and Millennium Midnight were sold at the 2000 auction and Good Ole Days Baileys Star was born on a private farm in Texas. Millennium Midnight lost a 2019 foal and did not adapt and could not maintain weight. She was returned to her donor spring 2020. Good Ole Days Baileys Star foaled in 2020, survived pythiosis, and died spring 2021. Tidewater Treasure foaled in 3 times on Assateague and her 2022 daughter was kept for the feral herd. She was returned to her donor October 2022 as she was no longer able to maintain weight.
Tidewater Treasure
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Good Old Days Bailey's Star and Millennium Midnight
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Norman Rockwell Giddings
Norman Rockwell Giddings was sold at the auction in 2018 and was donated back to the feral herd in October 2019. He has had one daughter kept for the feral herd.