pony known horse breed pony developed lives feral condition united_states states virginia maryland breed famous series written starting horse like commonly called smaller stature created poor habitat variation found physical characteristics blood different breeds introduced points history solid color found patterns favorite breed enthusiasts live diet salt marsh plants brush poor quality scarce food combined created faults outside blood added beginning early 20th century legends told origins popular holds descend survivors wrecked spanish virginia coast likely descend stock released island 17th century colonists looking escape livestock laws taxes mainland practice pony began settlers rounding removing mainland official held auctioned way raise money fire equipment annual event continued fashion present day popularly known feral actually live entire island owned federal government split fence maryland virginia state line herd living fence live land managed different federal agencies different management strategies maryland herd referred literature national_park_service horses live generally treated wild animals given assistance species island treated prevent conversely virginia herd referred lives owned virginia treated twice yearly prepare life general population sold auction live live island having purchased bred private breeders characteristics horses referred pony breed average hands inches feral state grow hands inches provided better nutrition generally weigh pounds solid colors found breed patterns horses coloration tend sell money annual auction outside added herd variation physical characteristics general breed tends straight slightly concave facial profile broad forehead refined neck shoulders angled ribs sprung chest broad short broad rounded thick low set tail breed legs tend straight good dense bone makes sound considered intelligent willing viewed easy train hunter driving trail terms health generally hardy easy keepers late 19th century author praised good manners gentle disposition reporting story pony ridden distance miles days man equipment load weighed pounds pony weighed approximately pounds history legend states descend spanish horses virginia coast way peru 16th century story holds descend horses left island pirates theories unlikely documentation found horses inhabiting island early mention horses existing island colonists mainland island mid late evidence points ancestors actually horses brought islands 17th century mainland farmers livestock islands subject taxes fencing laws animals including sheep cattle horses brought islands national_park_service holds theory horses brought island 17th century volunteer fire company owns virginia argues spanish theory correct argue horses valuable 17th century left run wild island claim sunken spanish virginia coast support theory promotes theory early 1900s described having islands american revolution described time perfect symmetry extraordinary powers action endurance early 1800s virginia governor released author called earliest printed testimony 1920s managed agencies faults found effects legs narrow poor bone lack substance plagued breed animals growing hands inches partially limited poor quality feed found islands harsh habitat allowed survive welsh pony blood added upgrade stock horses coloring introduced herd common distinctive patterns contribute horse like breed owned introduced arabian blood added hopes adding height breed increasing length legs arabian different points breed history released herd survive bred removed island breeding returned pony similar history comes coast north_carolina isolated population outside blood added island herd island undergone change time island connected lowest point august hurricane created inlet south maryland separating storm permanent system artificial built preserve inlet navigation channel result disrupting sand movement area island drifted considerably westward kilometer apart pony written description pony appeared practice rounding livestock island existed years initially animals marked ownership groups settlers event festival day days horse sheep held sheep population diminished time pony population grew wednesday thursday july designated annual days pony taking place early 1920s purchased wealthy farmer forcing settlers necessitating change pony format parts pony actual moved transported truck years annual swim begun early 1900s established tourism sport haven causeway completed connected island virginia mainland pair fires ravaged year volunteer fire company established official held auctioned raise money fire equipment held annually exception currently visitors gather wednesday july watch mounted riders bring virginia herd swim channel swim takes minutes rider observers hand assist horses especially hard time crossing swim herd evaluated late stages pregnancy young removed herd islands swim affected treated site larger auctioned day majority herd including young returned friday highest price paid pony lowest price purchased buy conditions money fire department allows pony released pony swim breed registry preservation founded open horses purchased annual auction maintains breed registry registers including private breeders registered associations owned private individuals spread canada management lies virginia state lines split states smaller northern portion maryland larger southern section virginia separate live separated fence runs maryland virginia state border descended original stock maryland feral called horses maintained national_park_service virginia feral called owned entire island purchased federal government divided protected areas maryland virginia lie jurisdiction different governmental agencies different management strategies applied herd maryland section contains state owned land allowed state plays little management feral separate small bands consisting stallion diet consists mainly coarse grass grows salt marshes makes percent food diet supplemented vegetation rose american beach grass poison ivy require twice water horses require diet increased water drink contributes appearing fat maryland herd maryland herd called herd owned managed national_park_service maryland herd free ranging wild horse populations left united_states combined presence relatively small naturally confined area ideal scientific study late 1970s scientists herd conduct studies feral horse behavior social structure ecology remote delivery pregnancy testing effects human intervention wild animal populations wildlife populations species worldwide studied detail long period maryland herd herd numbers grew negatively impacted living environment manage population numbers long term non employed proving percent effective seven year field trial began management level smaller amounts early proven effective improving health increasing life older removal pregnancy related stress general herd health improved early mortality decreased older found age horse injured administered treatments percent rate injection site normally weeks mare years old given treatment withdrawn produces produced represented genetically herd placed yearly treatment plan death introduction herd numbers continued rise high dropped significantly study determined mitochondrial dna diversity herd low likely isolation nuclear genetic diversity remained level similar breeds mainland treatment maryland herd treated like wildlife extra attention paid employees thought likely maryland herd carries infectious effectively allowing riding camping privately owned horses mainland shore insect season stretches mid october treatment wild animals maryland herd aggressive reports tearing tents biting kicking knocking visitors increase biting incidents national_park_service implemented new measures visitors measures included new safety information recommended viewing distances visitors danger visitors ill fed inappropriate human foods average maryland pony year killed car pony patrol volunteers patrol island visitors virginia herd virginia herd called herd owned managed allows live special use grazing permit allowing approximately adult thirty born herd year annual maintain herd size animals working island protect increase population efforts endangered herd placement fences reduced land available grazing fencing prevents reaching sea went escape biting insects including trapped enclosure high water died carried sea storm unlike maryland herd virginia island roadways prevent auto accidents discourage visitors feeding late 20th century previously sold auction returned population numbers threatened drop targeted numbers large numbers deaths storms issues virginia herd rounded treatment including diseases eastern western swim year addition continual monitoring basic aid minor injuries performed committee fire department intervention needed brought general horse population auction purchase private buyers visits tested books released children book series novels breed internationally famous real purchased henry publicity increased film based book publicity generated books assisted breed remaining viable 21st century fictionalized books based real horse ranch established preserve establish museum memorabilia series model horse company created models descendants surviving descendants worldwide
Chincoteague Pony