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About

Chincoteague Pony Breed History endeavors to tell the story of the Chincoteague pony, providing context and information about the events and people that shaped the breed.

The project is run by Sarah, a lifelong pony nerd. She's been collecting articles and photos off-and-on for years, but the public side of the project began with the Chincoteague Pony Breed History Facebook page in January 2018. The blog began in June 2019.

You can support the project by buying Sarah a coffee!

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You can also check out Sarah's Chincoteague pony artwork on Facebook or on Etsy!






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The Half Arabians of Assateague: Stanley White, Grandeur Arabians, and Premierre

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Surfer Dude: The Pony, the Myth, the Legend

For well over a hundred years, people have argued over the true origins of the Chincoteague ponies, so it's appropriate that the origins of the most famous wild pony are not completely known. The wild Chincoteague pony stallion Surfer Dude captured the hearts of thousands with his distinctive looks: his deep chocolate-brown coloring, his blonde mane, his partial blue eye, and the spot of gray below his '92 hip brand. Surfer Dude in 2010. Photo by Sarah Boudreau. Surfer Dude was born in 1992. The CVFC started freezebranding with the year of the pony's birth in 1991, which allowed for easier recognition and record-keeping. Two years after Surfer Dude was born, the Chincoteague Pony Association was formed. The CPA was organized by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, and it was the primary pony registry for many years, keeping track of which foals were born to which parents. It is difficult to verify information on many of the ponies born before the CPA, because ...
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FAQ: Wild Chincoteague Ponies and Pony Penning

It’s almost Pony Penning week! If you’re bound for Chincoteague for the first time, or simply want to brush up on your wild pony facts, this is the blog post for you.  This blog covers the history of the Chincoteague pony, but today, we're going to talk about the present. Since newcomers to Pony Penning tend to have a lot of questions, I’ve put together a FAQ about the ponies and Pony Penning at large.  Full disclaimer, I’m not associated with the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department and I'm not speaking in any official capacity–I’m just a pony nerd who’s attended every Pony Penning since 2004 and has heard a lot of the same questions asked around the corrals.  Who owns the wild ponies? The wild Chincoteague ponies are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department (CVFC), who have a permit from the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge to keep ponies on Assateague Island. The wild foals are auctioned to benefit the CVFC. The auction provides the money for firefigh...
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