Wild Horses at Chincoteague and Assateague Island National Seashore. The herd on Chincoteague is managed by the volunteer fire company, which has an annual round up, sells off foals every year as a way of controlling the size of the herd and of raising money to support the fire company. When we visited we were not able to get close to the horses at Chincoteague. On the other hand, at Assateague Island National Seashore, which is operated by the National Park Service, one could get quite close to the free-roaming ponies, although actual contact is forbidden. The population size is managed through birth control administered by rifle-launched dart. Otherwise, there is minimal physical interaction with the animals.
On the other hand, at Assateague Island National Seashore, which is operated by the National Park Service, one could get quite close to the free-roaming ponies, although actual contact is forbidden. The population size is managed through birth control. Otherwise, there is minimal human interaction with the animals. A Park Ranger Intern told us the Painted Lady is the only mare that is still part of the Old Stallion’s Harem. After analysing the pictures from that day, I’m not so sure. After bumping into the Old Stallion and the Painted Lady, we came across two other mares grazing nearby. I made a number of shots of those two. Later on, our way out of the park, we spotted animals that appeared to be all four in a somewhat larger band in a pasture some distance from where we’d first spotted them. The old man seems not to have lost a loyal following.