of the island, salt marshes on the bay side being near-shore and estuarine waters that support abundant resident and migrating wild bird populations, and maritime forests of loblolly and scrub pine trees in between. As a barrier island, it is constantly under change from the shifting forces of wind and water.
The most well-known mammal and major attraction to Assateague Island are the wild horses. These feral horses are descendents of domesticated horses the early colonists brought there to graze in the 1600’s. Walking through the pine forests, grazing in the sand dunes and salt marshes, or strolling down the beach or in the ocean surf, these beautiful animals are a pleasure to behold. These are tough horses. On this windswept barrier island, they survive the scorching heat, abundant insects, severe storms and food of poor quality. Because of the low quality diet and through hundreds of years of adaptation, these horses are of small stature, though pony size they are genetically horses. Their salty diet of saltmarsh cordgrass, saltmeadow hay, and beach grass requires they consume twice the fresh water of domesticated horses.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Assateague Island is a 37 miles long narrow strip of land located along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia, bordered to the west by the Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays and by the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
The island is divided into three different parks/refuges; the Assateague Island National Seashore and Maryland’s Assateague State Park at the northern end and in Virginia, at the southern end of the island, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is located. My first stop was to the national seashore to setup camp for the week. The campground I chose is located just behind the first ridge of sand dunes. Once I had my tent all arranged I set out, in the chilled December air, to explore.
The island is comprised of sandy beaches and adjacent dunes containing scrub thicket that extend the entire length