Chincoteague Pony Breed History

Equine infectious anemia, also known as swamp fever, spiked in the 1930’s and again in the 60’s and 70’s—and it was during the 70's when it infected almost half of the wild Chincoteague pony herd. The disease, spread primarily through biting flies, is characterized by episodes of fever, as well as swelling, weight loss, and loss of stamina. Some infected horses can go up to a year without displaying symptoms after their initial infection, which would make the disease difficult to observe in wild ponies. EIA has been around for centuries, but to this day there is no successful treatment and no vaccine available in the United States. In 1973, the Coggins test, which determines if a horse is infected with EIA, was approved by the US Department of Agriculture. The Coggins test was used on Chincoteague ponies the very next year on two foals that were bought at Pony Penning and taken to New Jersey, where they began showing symptoms. Upon this news, both the Chincoteague Volunteer Fi...

Bob Evans, the sausage-maker and restaurant-owner, lived hundreds of miles from the sunny, hoofprint-stamped beaches of Assateague Island, making him an unlikely ally in the fight to preserve the Chincoteague pony breed. Evans grew up near Gallipolis, OH, on a gorgeous farm tucked into the folds of the Appalachian mountains. Despite his success in business, he was known to be a genuine soul. His persona as an honest farmer was no fake—Evans was the real deal. He was also known for his giving nature. The Bob Evans Farm has long been stocked with educational materials, and Evans worked with Ohio’s 4-H program for years, even starting a program that gave away 44 quarter horse colts a year to deserving kids.  Bob Evans Farms in 2019 In ‘72, Evans got interested in the plight of the Spanish barb mustang, a subset of the mustang breed that was quickly declining in number. Wild mustangs descend from the horses originally brought to the Americas by Spanish colonizers, and tho...