Assateague Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Assateague Island is a barrier island, comprising the southern portion of Maryland's Atlantic coast and part of Virginia's Eastern Shore. It is known for its herds of feral ponies, descendant of 17th-century horses, and for the Assateague Lighthouse. It is accessible by car via bridges along Maryland State Highway 611 and from Chincoteague, Virginia; however, there are few roads on the island. Off-road vehicles with permits are allowed in certain areas.

There are four bay side and two beach side backcountry sites available for camping. There are also several primitive campsites which are run by the National Park Service, as well as the State of Maryland. Kayak touring is a popular way to see the wildlife, especially on the calmer bay side. The best time to backcountry camp is in the spring and the fall. Summer months are known for heavy mosquito populations, particularly on the bay side.

The feral ponies have adapted to life on the island. To keep their numbers under control, a federal contraceptive program has been in place since 1994. Despite signs warning visitors not to feed the ponies, some people still do which can result in serious injuries as the animals can be quite aggressive. Large populations of birds also inhabit the island, including American Oystercatcher, Great Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret.

Except for a small Assateague State Park, the Maryland side of the island is within Assateague Island National Seashore. The Virginia side of the island is within Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the water around the island is within the boundaries of the national seashore. The island has a land area of 63.21 km² (24.4 sq mi) and has a permanent population of 7 persons, according to the 2000 census. All of the population lived in the Virginia portion.<ref>Block 3000, Block Group 3, Census Tract 9907, Worcester County, Maryland and Block 3000, Block Group 3, Census Tract 9901, Accomack County, Virginia United States Census Bureau</ref>

The island's ponies are often referred to as wild ponies. In fact, the term "wild" is incorrect; horses were extinct in the Americas before being reintroduced by Europeans. The correct term is feral, as the ponies are descendants of domesticated horses that adapted to life in the wild.