Next month, the famous Chincoteague Pony herd will be rounded up for vet checks. The southern herd will be rounded up on Friday April 6 and the Northern herd on Saturday April 7. You will be able to see the Southern herd in the Southern Corral, just off the road that takes you to the beach.
This is one way to see the Chincoteauge Ponies all together besides the main pony swim in July. If you’re not into crowds, this is an alternative.
Observing Ponies on Assateague
You don’t have to attend a penning or the pony swim to see the wild herds on Assateague.
To see wild ponies, first head to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island.
Ponies can often be seen in the marshes along Beach Road and from the observation platform on the Woodland Trail.
There are a few parking pull-offs on Beach Road, but if you don’t have much luck there, your next best bet is to take a walk along Woodland Trail, also off Beach Access Rd. The trail is paved for part of the way. About half a mile into the trail, there is a pony viewing spot. It is clearly marked. Note: The mosquitoes can be vicious, so bring spray!
You can also sign up for a tour of the wildlife refuge and the opportunity to see more wild ponies at the Visitor Center. The tours are at 10 and 4. If you are interested in this tour, be sure to sign up for it early because they fill up quickly.
To get more of an up-close encounter with the ponies, head to an unusual location: McDonald’s! The McDonald’s on Maddox Boulevard is right next door to the pony pen. Often there are seven or eight ponies and with their foals. For a quarter, you can get corn feed out of a dispenser and feed the ponies.
Chincoteague Lodging
Please consider Miss Molly’s your home away from home when you visit Chincoteague.