The ponies can been seen all around the refuge. I do not know many places where you can sit on a beach in the company of wild ponies. Sometimes we see them walking down the road or off in the fields, they are just so cute. There is a legend that the Chincoteague ponies are descendants from two Arabians that survived a shipwreck and swam ashore back in the 1600's.
Once a year to keep the herd size down , the local volunteer fire dept holds a pony auction. When I was a just a kid my favorite book was Misty of Chincoteague, I think I read it over and over. Besides seeing the horses Chincoteague is one of my favorite places to go birding. One of my photos shows Cattle Egrets sitting on the ponies.
Thanks for the visit, enjoy your day!
" We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." unknown
What a fairy-tale place - kept me awake to see it again and again at a quarter past four in the morning - apart from taking care of my two year old son, whos sleep hasn't been to good and it just started to rain...
ReplyDeleteA wonderful Saturday for you all !
I loved the book Misty of Chincoteague too! I've always wanted to go there to see the horses, so thanks for sharing your photos. It looks like a beautiful place to vist, and the birding would be an added bonus too!
ReplyDeleteWow you are so blessed to see those lovely creatures!
ReplyDeleteI would love to join this meme but I don't see the link in your post?
Cool pictures..I love the third picture with the cattle egrets!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place. Wild ponies and egrets...nice shots.
ReplyDeleteEileen: Beautiful capture of the ponies and the egrets on their back. The shot with all the birds and ponies was special. That one pony looked like it had donkey colors.
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots!
ReplyDeleteI loved the Misty story growing up as well. Years later it was nice to know it was based on a true story about these ponies.
I've seen the wild ponies near Cape Hatteras.
Have you ever watched the annual pony swim?
This place looks an Eden!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures too!
I've never been to a wildlife refuge that had ponies roaming around. I love the pictures with egrets on their backs, and the legend is fascinating!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! These are great shots, especially love the 3rd one. "Misty" was one of my favorite books growing up. Thanks for sharing these. Kathy
ReplyDeleteEileen,
ReplyDeleteI loved this post. What fun to spend time with these wonderful ponies, spend time in nature, and watch birds -- all at the same time. Wonderful! I enjoyed it all.
Growing up a horse lovin' kid the Misty books were my favorites, I always wanted to see the Chincoteague ponies! Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeletewhat a real beauty! no wonder all little girls in america wants a pony. :)
ReplyDeleteSo cute!I love horses and ponies, they are adorable and your last picture is outstanding.A whole family!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and happy camera critters
purrs and love
Luna
What a beautiful place - we loved these photos and really felt like we were there with you. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely pony shots, I have visited Chincoteague/Assateague a few times but the ponies were always quite a distance away across the marshes.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading Misty of Chincoteague as a child too, in fact all of Marguerite Henry's books.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful place to visit, I would love to see the wild ponies. The cattle egrets on their backs is something to see. Cool legend.
ReplyDeleteThat is just so neat. I loved the Misty of Chincoteague books.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, I must get hold of the book soon.
ReplyDeletethey are so cute, i love the birds sitting on there backs
ReplyDeleteoh, dear, how sweet that foal is. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend!
Eileen, I would love you to see the kookaburra that visited me.
ReplyDeleteAdventure Before Dementia
No wonder you visit several times a year - it's enchanting! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletewhat a cute ponies, love all your animal posts, the white birds. happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty neaqt to see ponies just ambling down the road, and on the beach. Sounds like a lovely place to visit!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen wild ponies before....that's awesome!
ReplyDeletethanks for letting me know about those birds...lol! now I know what kind they are....that was water...from the rain....
thanks for coming by!
Wow, that is awesome! That would be such a cool place to visit. Beautiful pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to visit! Nice captures.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting post, with excellent photos. It is amazing to see the Egrets on the pony's back.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Nature Notes Eileen! I am usually prompt in getting around, but am down with a bug. Your blog is so perfectly suited to Nature Notes. I was not familiar with the area that you visited. How neat that you could be with wild ponies and that there is an area that they can be free. Beautiful and I am so happy to have you for Nature Notes... Michelle
ReplyDeleteA lovely peaceful post! The ponies are sweet - especially the little one with the sea behind it.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see these photos. I'd love to see the ponies in person.
ReplyDeleteMisty was one of my favorite childhood books, too.
Sounds like a great place to explore! Love your photos, I feel like I was there too!
ReplyDeleteI also read Misty of Chincoteague during my childhood, and seeing your photos brought back lots of great memories. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI loved that book, too. Actually, I loved anything to do with horses when I was a girl. How wondrous it must be to sit on the beach with wild ponies. Thanks for taking us along!
ReplyDeleteWow...I've heard of them and seeing them in your photos are great. I love the shot with the birds.
ReplyDeleteYou are very lucky to see those marvelous animals..
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween!