Wallops Island is a neighboring island to Chincoteague and once also had feral ponies, along with sheep and cattle. The island and livestock were owned by the Wallops Island Association. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company leased grazing from the Association at some point. The CVFC owned foals from Wallops were sold as Chincoteague Ponies.
In the 1940s many of the ponies from Wallops were moved to Assateague. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility was founded in 1945. The Navy leased the upper part of the island for ordinance testing in 1947. The Wallops ponies were said to closer to the old strain than any of the ponies on Assateague at that time. Unfortunately many of the mares did not adapt. Two mares were found dead during Pony Penning 1948. One of the mares was found with an orphan colt who was rounded up for care and sold but later died. The foal inspired Marguerite Henry to write Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague in 1949.
Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge was created on July 10, 1972. All of the remaining Wallops ponies were incorporated into the herds on Assateague in 1971.
In the 1940s many of the ponies from Wallops were moved to Assateague. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility was founded in 1945. The Navy leased the upper part of the island for ordinance testing in 1947. The Wallops ponies were said to closer to the old strain than any of the ponies on Assateague at that time. Unfortunately many of the mares did not adapt. Two mares were found dead during Pony Penning 1948. One of the mares was found with an orphan colt who was rounded up for care and sold but later died. The foal inspired Marguerite Henry to write Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague in 1949.
Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge was created on July 10, 1972. All of the remaining Wallops ponies were incorporated into the herds on Assateague in 1971.
Wallops Island Pony foal. Photo from Wallops Island by Nan Devincent-Hayes and Bowen Bennett.