On which barrier island off the U.S. coast of Maryland and Virginia can you see wild horses?

Misty of Chincoteague is a lovely children's book about the horses there and two kids from the island next to it, Chincoteague

My little boys mama loved Assateague Island and the wild horses. She visited there just after she was adopted as a child. She took her own life in October of 2017. Thanks to her I have a beautiful little boy and a very easy answer....

I read the book 'Nights in Rodanthe' & enjoyed the movie starring Richard Gere. The wild horses were an integral & beautiful part of the story!!

Korn Of For-Du, I spent every single summer of my childhood on Chincoteague and Assateague, so I can assure you that neither island is in North Carolina. They both span across the Maryland - Virginia border, about 3 hours from the Baltimore-DC metropolitan area on the Del-Mar-Va peninsula. Chincoteague is the main island where the town of Chincoteague, Va is and Assateague is the uninhabited barrier island that protects it. All of the ponies live on Assateague but a fence separates the two herds. The Maryland herd, called the Assateague horses, are only given contraceptives and allowed to run feral. The Virginia herd are the now famous (because of the book) Chincoteague ponies people come from all over the world to watch each summer when they're rounded up for the pony swim from Assateague to Chincoteague. Where they are penned, vetted, and a few of the foals are auctioned off

I would love to go there someday

Sueahside714, the auction also helps keep the herd at a manageable size. The small island can only support so many ponies. Overpopulation would lead to disease and starvation.

OptimisticFrog17914, they have a pony swim 2x a year. The horses stay in Assateague during warm months and swim to Chincoteague during cold months.

This reminds me of Hildalgo, which I just watched again. Frank Hopkins saves some wild Mustangs on a reserve. Real life hero for animals.

I wanna visit someday. Horses are such beautiful and majestic creatures!

Conn, Hi Conn, the site in the book was in North Carolina and we have barrier islands like the Assateague. Beautiful Outer Banks as we call them. Come visit!

I live in Virginia and remember learning about the Chincoteague horses. But didn't know they were on Assateague as well.

Why don’t humans just let nature be !!!

My daughter read the book. While traveling down the coast from Boston we saw the sign and she said we had to stop and see the horses. We did and it was an amazing experience.

TopDogSeargeant46623, so sorry for your loss

TopDogSeargeant46623, I am so sorry for your loss. Love your son and spend as much time as you can with your toes in the sand. I use to crab and on Elliot's Island. Loved my summers there.

When I lived in Maryland I visited the islands a couple times. it's actually a state park with a beach and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. it's a pretty cool place with the horses just roaming free in the woods and on the trails. however, they have a lot of biting insects attacking their backs faces and ears. I felt sorry for them but I realized they probably don't feel anything with their tough skin and fur and just being used to the environment. the park has very strict rules about not feeding them or spraying them with bug spray or doing anything except talk to and pet them. it's important that they are totally self-sufficient for the time of year when there is no people around and they are forced to fend for themselves anyway

when I lived in Maryland I visited the public park there a couple of times, it's near or not too far from Ocean City Maryland.

Ruby, I went to Chincoteague Island when I was a child. I have very fond memories of it and this is the first time I've ever heard anyone else mention it. Thank you!

There's a national park and a state park on the island and both allow camping. While we were in the state park, the ponies would walk thru the campground and camp sites. It is advised to stay well away from them and let them pass. Amazing experience.

Montana Lady, where do they go in the winter months?

Ruby, thanks for info about book!!

Montana Lady, your so right I lived and worked there for 20 years

been there and seen them.. magical!!

Meghi am alaskan indian.does my heart good to know horses are running wild on an island.i would like an island where wild indians could run around and be observed by tourists.oh we are running wild, in sitka. juneau.kake wrangell.petersburg.ketchican ect....

I live in Virginia and my cousin takes her son to see this she said it was a sight to see

Lol I just left there....went to go see the horses....i only live about 30 minutes from there.

penawareof, yes it is! the southern part of Assateague (VA side) is separated by a small strip of water from Chincoteague, known as the Assateague Channel.

RustyClown44769, not quite accurate, but close! They only swim to Chincoteague once per year during Pony Penning and stay for about 3 days. They spend the entire rest of the year on Assateague, all four seasons. :)

Conn, Lovely movie! I wanna read the book.

Ruby, I had that book as a kid. Unsure what happened to it.

TopDogSeargeant46623, so sorry .

Ruby, thanks. I just ordered it from my local library. And its sequel.

TopDogSeargeant46623, very sorry

Ruby, my favorite! next was the black stallion!

I guess I should add that part of the naming confusion with the names comes from the fact that the Virginia herd mostly lives in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge... however that is also on Assateague Island.

The original horses and their offspring are long gone. The current horses are replacements.