Does one of your kids love horses? Do you love horses? Well, you can easily plan a family vacation to see the Assateague Island ponies. These wild horses spend their days and nights running freely on the sandy shoreline. You must travel to the Assateague Island National Seashore, which is a barrier island. This island is off the coast of Virginia and Maryland. This is one of the best places to make a ton of memories with your kids. It’s amazing what you can find to talk about and do, as wild horses run around wild nearby.  

See the Ponies During a Family Vacation on Assateague Island

You can even start those memories prior to your family vacation. Read “Misty of Chincoteague” by Marguerite Henry. This book was first published in 1947. It’s a classic that shares the story of these wild ponies.  

The History of the Assateague Island Horses 

Wild horses have roamed around Assateague Island for hundreds of years. There are a couple of different versions of how these wild ponies arrived on this island.  

One version states these horses are the descendants of the horses of those who survived the Spanish galleon. The galleon, La Galga, wrecked right off the coast of the island.  

However, the version that is most likely true is the one that says these horses are the descendants of the horses released on the island by early settlers. They sent the horses to Assateague Island to graze, so they wouldn’t need to deal with the fencing laws during those times. It was also a way to avoid taxation on their livestock.  

Where to See the Assateague Island Ponies 

One of the best places to see wild horses on Assateague Island is Veterans Memorial Park. There are no benches or tables within this park. Your family will need to stand as you watch the ponies swim.  

If you want to be closer to the horses and away from massive crowds, I recommend taking a chartered boat. You must book your seats on the boat well in advance. So, let me know right away if this is something you want to do. That will give me time to get it arranged before it is too late.  

The Best Time to Vacation on Assateague Island 

The end of July is usually the best time to vacation on Assateague Island. This is when the horses are rounded up to make the swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague. Saltwater cowboys take the horses to the other island during low tide.  

This event is called Pony Penning. It is a tradition that goes all the way back to 1925. After the swim, there is a Fireman’s Carnival, as well as the infamous Pony Auction. You can actually bid on one of the horses. If you have the winning bid, you can take them home.  

The day after the auction, the saltwater cowboys take the horses back into the water. They swim from Chincoteague to Assateague Island once again. They will spend their time on Assateague Island for the next year.  

It is important that you give the wild horses on Assateague Island their space and never get too close. The horses are familiar with people, but they are feral. So, they can be quite unpredictable.  

Oh, and there are plenty of other things you can do during your family vacation on Assateague Island. I can help arrange all those, as I am planning your time with the Assateague Island ponies.  

So, are you ready to book a family vacation in Assateague Island to see the wild horses?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.  

And if you aren’t ready to book your next family vacation, you can sign up for my newsletter. This way, you can keep up to date with all the travel information I share.