Two herds of feral wild ponies have made themselves at home on this barrier island, and it’s hard to imagine a lovelier place to graze and roam. Assateague Island, a designated national park straddling Maryland and Virginia, is a wildly beautiful land of salt marshes, maritime forests and pale beaches. The horses are descendants of domestic animals and are allowed to thrive here alongside other wildlife such as bald eagles and, off the coast, dolphins.
Assateague Island wild ponies travel the beach near Chincoteague, Virginia & Ocean City, Maryland. The south entrance is a 1/4 mile east of Chincoteague, its north entrance is eight miles from Ocean City. Chincoteague & Ocean City are gateways to Assateague Island and provide vacation lodging for outdoor recreation, nature tours to see wild ponies and more.