How many ponies live on Assateague Island?
There are two distinct herds of ponies on Assateague. On the Maryland side, Assateague Island State Park personnel limit the pony population by birth control. On the Virginia side, a herd resides on Chincoteague Island Wildlife Refuge. Only foals from the Virginia herd rounded up and auctioned off. The auction serves to keep the population of the horses down to the 150 adult animals that the Fish and Wildlife Service deems appropriate to protect the island habitat from overgrazing.
