Historical Pony: Beaufort Misty

Here's historical Chincoteague Pony is from over 70 years ago and a color that's no longer found in the breed. This mare is Beaufort Misty who was born in 1952. She was born on Beebe Ranch and was bred by Clarence (Grandpa) Beebe. Ehrman Mitchell bought her and another grey mare, Beaufort Blue Bell, from Beebe Ranch and she lived at his Beaufort Farms in Harrisburg, PA. These photos are from a Beaufort Farms scrapbook that was offered for sale online. She also appears in From Ponies for Young People by Ehrman Mitchell.

If you're familiar with pony breeds you probably noticed that she looks quite a bit like a Welsh Pony. That was my first impression upon seeing her photo. There's solid evidence that she's a Welsh cross. A Beebe Ranch ad from 7 years later advertised Chincoteague/Welsh crosses. A Welsh Pony stallion living on the ranch survived the 1962 nor'easter. More on Welsh outcrossing: https://www.thecolorfulchincoteague.com/welsh-pony.html

Grey has a long history in Chincoteagues but hasn't been in the breed for many years. Grey is dominant so if none were kept in breeding herds after a while it eventually disappeared. Grey in horses is somewhat like it is in people. Ponies are born a color and that that color disappears as the pony greys out. I picked these two photos because it was taken some years apart and shows Beaufort Misty becoming lighter. More on grey in Chincoteagues: https://www.thecolorfulchincoteague.com/grey.html I also added pictures of greys of other breeds to the page to provide examples and visually show how grey works.