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49-482: The Maryland section contains the majority of Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park . The Virginia section contains Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and a one-mile stretch of land containing the lifeguarded recreational beach and interpretive facilities managed by the National Park Service (or NPS). It is best known for its herds of feral horses , pristine beaches, and

98-496: A national seashore on the island alternated with periodic pushes for development. In 1950, a 15-mile section of the Maryland side of Assateague was plotted for development, and a paved road, Baltimore Boulevard, was constructed to traverse the new development. The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 destroyed or covered most of Baltimore Boulevard, and many of the structures on the island were destroyed. Although some private landowners on

147-469: A Spanish galleon that shipwrecked along the coast, and DNA evidence indicates the modern population includes the closest living descendants of Spanish horses brought to the Americas in the early 1500s. Previously, it was suggested the horses originated from late 17th century mainland owners who brought their horses to the barrier islands to avoid fencing laws and taxation. When excess numbers are removed from

196-438: A common housefly . The biting females are a considerable pest to both humans and animals while they seek a source of blood protein to produce additional eggs: greenhead larvae develop in the mud of salt marshes , and adult flies mate and lay their first group of eggs in the marsh, but to lay more eggs a female fly needs to drink an animal's blood, and so female greenheads which have laid eggs fly inland to look for prey in

245-489: A continuing supply. Before the national seashore was created in 1965, the island was going to be turned into a private resort community called Ocean Beach, Maryland. Some 5,000 private lots comprising what is now NPS property were zoned and sold for resort development in the 1950s. However, the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 halted the plans for development. The nor'easter destroyed the few existing structures on

294-411: A few retained property rights until 2006. These were mainly hunting camps. Large populations of birds inhabit the island, including American oystercatcher , great blue heron , and snowy egret . There are over 320 species that are known to inhabit the island during some portion of the year. These include gulls, terns, and other shorebirds along with raptors, waterbirds, and waterfowl. The piping plover

343-414: A mile long. The marsh trail is a half-mile trail on an elevated boardwalk over the marsh. Its elevation provides relief from mosquitoes and other bugs, and it provides excellent views of the salt marsh habitat. The forest trail is also a half-mile long, consisting of easily walkable hard pack surface and boardwalk. Much of the trail is shaded by woodlands providing relief from the heat. The dunes trail

392-446: A permanent system of artificial jetties was built to preserve the inlet as a navigation channel. As a result, the island has drifted considerably westward, and the two landmasses are now over 0.62 miles (1.00 km) apart. While this process has benefitted Ocean City, creating wider beaches and better fishing access, it caused erosion problems on Assateague. Between 1933 and the early 1960s, U.S. federal government interest in creating

441-430: A result, Assateague's beach is shifted several hundred meters westwards compared to Ocean City's. The inlet was formed during the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane , separating Fenwick and Assateague islands, and a jetty was immediately constructed to stabilize the inlet. After severe nor'easters in 1998, a sand replenishment program was undertaken to restore a sand supply to the north end of Assateague and to ensure

490-401: A setting in which to experience a dynamic barrier island and to pursue a multitude of recreational opportunities. The stated mission of the park is to preserve and protect “unique coastal resources and the natural ecosystem conditions and processes upon which they depend, provide high-quality resource-based recreational opportunities compatible with resource protection and educate the public as to

539-520: A valid Maryland fishing license before going out. The over-sand vehicle (OSV) zone is designated for four-wheel drive vehicles to drive on the beach. The Maryland OSV zone extends from the main camping area in the park to the Virginia state line where the horse fence prevents access into the national refuge. A permit and a verified list of safety equipment is required for access to the OSV zone. OSV access

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588-608: Is a threatened species that nests on Assateague. The feral horse population of Assateague Island is alternately known as the Assateague horse in Maryland and the Chincoteague Pony in Virginia. This distinction, made both on per-breed and per-individual basis, is sometimes a matter of disagreement. The traditional definition of a horse or a pony is based on whether the animal in question falls over or under 14.2  hands (58 inches, 147 cm). The equines on

637-705: Is available at any of the backcountry sites. The bayside sites see high populations of biting insects in summer. No camping is available on the VA portion of the Island however there are several surrounding campgrounds in the town of Chincoteague and on the mainland. Except for the backcountry sites, reservations must be made for all campsites. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Reservations are opened six months ahead of time and often book quickly, especially for weekends and holidays. The national seashore has three short nature trails, each of which are under

686-460: Is limited to 145 vehicles at any time in Maryland, enforced by automatic gates, and 48 in Virginia, unless the Tom's Cove Hook is closed, in which case access is limited to 18 vehicles. OSV permits are issued for a year from the month of purchase. The permit fee ranges from $ 110 to $ 200, depending upon the type of access desired. All vehicles using the OSV zone must display a valid OSV Permit. Upon signing

735-509: Is moving westward as a result of natural barrier processes during storms. Water washes over the island, sending beach sand backward toward the bay. This barrier island “rollover” is accelerated as the climate changes and the sea level rises. This condition is most pronounced at the northern end of the island, where Ocean City's jetties have stabilized the islands north of the Ocean City Inlet and have starved Assateague of new sand. As

784-584: Is the largest natural barrier island ecosystem in the Middle Atlantic states region that remains predominantly unaffected by human development. Located within a three-hour drive to the east and south of Richmond , Washington , Baltimore , Wilmington , Philadelphia major metropolitan areas plus north of the several clustered smaller cities around Hampton Roads harbor of Virginia with Newport News , Hampton , Norfolk , Portsmouth , Chesapeake and Virginia Beach . The National Seashore offers

833-478: Is three-quarters of a mile long, walked entirely in the sand. The trail offers a look at many of the different plants that can be found in this habitat, as well as a section of Baltimore Boulevard, a road that existed on the island before it was destroyed in the 1962 storm. While visitors can swim anywhere in the ocean, the National Park Service provides a lifeguarded beach in both MD and VA. During

882-482: The Assateague Lighthouse . The island also contains numerous marshes, bays, and coves, including Toms Cove . Bridge access for cars is possible from both Maryland and Virginia, though no road runs the full north/south length of the island. Like all barrier islands , Assateague has changed in form over the years. The structure of barrier islands is determined by movement of sand in the littoral zone ,

931-659: The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company . Once a year in July, the local "salt water cowboys" round them up and sort a number of animals to be removed from the island, which are put up for auction on Pony Penning Day. To keep their numbers under control on the Maryland side, a federal contraceptive program has been in place since 1994. In Virginia, the Pony Penning Days auction keeps the horse population at levels required by agreement with

980-741: The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Assateague Island has a humid subtropical climate and is classified in hardiness Zone 8a. Assateague Island National Seashore Assateague Island National Seashore is a unit of the National Park Service system of the U.S. Department of the Interior . Located on the East Coast along the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland and Virginia , Assateague Island

1029-631: The Maryland District in the north and the Virginia District in the south. It is not possible to drive down the island from one district to the other. All automobile traffic must travel through the mainland to access one end of the island from the other. The Maryland District of Assateague Island extends from the Ocean City Inlet to the Virginia state line. The Assateague Island National Seashore visitor center, campground, three nature trails, lifeguarded beach, and park headquarters and

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1078-607: The Maryland Park Service of the Department of Natural Resources ) and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ). The park is located on a barrier island shaped by the stormy seas and gentle winds along the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula . The island is approximately 37 miles (60 km) long, yet never more than a mile wide. The park is divided into

1127-614: The NPS, Maryland State Parks , and United States Fish and Wildlife Service . All of the land on the island north of the Maryland-Virginia state line is the Assateague Island National Seashore, with the exception of the smaller Assateague State Park . The national seashore was established in 1965 to preserve the barrier island and surrounding waters, and provide recreational opportunities. All of

1176-487: The National Park Service operates with a recreational beach, lifeguarded area and visitor center within a one-mile parking and visitor use section. This collaboration between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service is defined in an agreement or Memorandum of Understanding.The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the southern end of Assateague Island should not be confused with Chincoteague Island ,

1225-568: The National Seashore and Assateague State Park by reservation. Backcountry sites are also available from the National Seashore. There is no camping available from the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Pets are prohibited in all areas except certain parts of the National Seashore and parts of the state park. Kayak touring is a popular way to see the wildlife, especially on the calmer bay side. Summer months are known for heavy mosquito and biting Greenhead fly populations, particularly on

1274-399: The OSV zone and North end of the island often occur in order to prevent visitors from disturbing their nests or harming the newborn chicks. Bands of feral horses, commonly known as Chincoteague ponies or as Assateague horses, freely roam on Assateague Island. Although local legend claims that the horses are descendants of animals that survived a shipwreck on the coast, it is more likely that

1323-407: The area bordering the marsh; they can stay on land looking for animals to bite for up to four weeks. Their bites itch, like those of mosquitoes , but are more painful, since greenheads feed by cutting a wound in the skin with scissor-like mouth parts and sucking the blood released through it. Females live for three to four weeks and may lay about 100 to 200 eggs per blood meal. The eggs are laid on

1372-423: The bay side. Assateague State Park comprises almost 800 acres (3.2 km) and lies in Maryland within the National Seashore. The state park is the most developed area on the island with 350 campsites. Most of the water around the island is within the boundaries of the national seashore. The island has a land area of 24.4 square miles (63 km) and has no resident population in either Maryland or Virginia, though

1421-426: The famous ponies that are herded every July and then swim to nearby Chincoteague Island as a fundraiser called "Pony Penning." In order to ensure healthy ponies to auction off, the firefighters provide them with food, water, and vet care. The Maryland herd is treated as wildlife and are not rounded up or removed from the island, nor do they receive veterinary care. The National Park Service uses birth control to manage

1470-634: The grass in a salt marsh; the larvae live in the intertidal mud of the salt marsh for one or two years, preying on other invertebrates, before pupating in early spring. The adult flies emerge in late spring and are most common from late June to August. Greenheads are large enough that their population cannot be controlled with insecticide without damaging the ecosystem. Affected coastal communities install black box traps in marsh areas to reduce and control T. nigrovittatus populations. [REDACTED] Media related to Tabanus nigrovittatus at Wikimedia Commons This article related to members of

1519-451: The herd size, injecting a vaccine known as PZP via a dart to control pregnancy and to keep the size of the herd within 80–100 horses. Though many of the horses on the island measure under 14 hands (4 ft 8 inches) in height, which would normally qualify them as ponies, most of their stock comes from horse breeds. Thus, despite their stunted height, which is attributed to their salty diet, they are considered horses and not ponies. Though

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1568-508: The horses are descendants of domestic horses confined on the island by local residents in lieu of fencing them in on the mainland, where fences were taxed. The salty low-nutrient diet of saltmarsh grasses has resulted in the horses' short stature and bloated abdomens. Two herds are kept separate by a fence at the Maryland-Virginia border. The horses in Virginia are owned by the Chincoteague Fire Department . These are

1617-690: The horses, especially those in the developed area, may appear tame, they have been known to bite and kick park visitors. Visitors should be wary of the horses as they are feral animals and can cause serious harm to visitors who are too close to them. Additionally, rangers may write citations for visitors who are seen petting, feeding, or simply moving within 40 feet of the horses. Fees to enter Assateague Island National Seashore are charged per motor vehicle, and are reciprocal with passes from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Additionally, all forms of Federal Recreational Lands passes, including golden age, military, and access passes are accepted as long as

1666-475: The island and they are placed into human ownership, they adapt quickly to domestication. Made famous by Marguerite Henry in her children's book Misty of Chincoteague , the animals are popular tourist attractions and subjects for photography. The Maryland horses are owned and managed by the NPS, who have carefully followed the population over generations. In Virginia, the Chincoteague ponies are owned by

1715-677: The island south of the state border in Virginia is the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge , with the exception of a one-mile stretch of land including the recreational beach and interpretive facilities managed by the NPS. The Refuge was established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds, primarily snow geese . The U.S. Geological Survey has initiated studies aimed at mitigating the potential sea-level rise on this barrier island complex. The National Park Service allows off-road vehicles with permits in certain areas. Car camping sites are available in both

1764-497: The island supported re-development, by this time the state of Maryland generally supported a national seashore and legislation was introduced in the United States Congress. After Congressional efforts did not produce final legislation in 1964, new legislation in 1965 was successful and Assateague Island National Seashore was formed. The entirety of Assateague Island is owned and operated by three different agencies:

1813-498: The island tend to be under 14.2, but have a horse phenotype . It is argued that their relatively small size is primarily due to environmental, rather than genetic conditions. The National Park Service provides information about these animals through brochures and the internet. The Maryland and Virginia horses are kept apart by fencing at the border between the two states. Though commonly called "wild," these horses had domesticated ancestors. Legend states their ancestors were survivors of

1862-483: The island that had been built and ripped the roads apart. Realizing that the island was too unstable to build upon, the housing development firm sold all of its land to the federal government. To this day, it is not possible to drive the entire length of the island; one must travel on the mainland to journey between the National Seashore in Maryland and the National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Since

1911-509: The neighboring island to the west with a residential community on it. One must drive through Chincoteague Island in order to reach the Virginia District. Assateague Island is part of a chain of barrier islands that extend from Maine to Texas . The island is built from sand moving south via longshore drift building the island's length. The source of the sand is erosion and run-off from the Appalachian Mountains . The island

1960-502: The option of an oceanside campsite on the west side of the main dune, or a bayside campsite on a peninsula projecting into Sinepuxent Bay . While the oceanside campsites have quick access to the beach and ocean, the bayside campsites offer better views of the wetlands, often with horses grazing there throughout the day. The park also offers six backcountry camping sites, four located on the bayside which can be accessed by canoe, kayak, or hiking, and two hike-in oceanside sites. No fresh water

2009-450: The park's creation, several improvements have been made to aid the public in recreation. The park maintains a 2-mile (3 km) stretch of road on the island that travels through the state park in order for visitors to reach the National Seashore. A new visitor center was built in 2010 which is located on the mainland before visitors cross over the bridge to get to the island. The visitor center provides orientation information and exhibits for

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2058-532: The passholder is present in the vehicle. A full fee schedule can be found online. Greenhead fly Tabanus nigrovittatus , also known as the greenhead horse fly , salt marsh greenhead , or simply the greenhead fly , greenhead or greenfly , is a species of horse-fly commonly found around the coastal marshes and wetlands of the Eastern United States . They are smaller than most horsefly species, instead being close in size to

2107-425: The portion of the ocean closest to the seaward side of the island. The island was once connected to the southern end of Fenwick Island . However, the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane created an inlet south of Ocean City, Maryland . This inlet separated the two landforms. Normally, it would have silted back due to the littoral drift that ran from north to south. However, after the storm, between 1933 and 1935,

2156-414: The public. Many ranger-led programs are available in the summer and fall. The park service also opened a new visitor contact station for campground operations, passes and permits on the island in 2012. The building is powered by new solar panels built in the nearby North Beach parking lot. The park service maintains 148 campsites for both tents and recreational vehicles. On the Maryland side, campers have

2205-670: The registration for the OSV permit, operators accept responsibility for knowing and following all OSV regulations. The national seashore provides habitat for a variety of plants and animals adapted to the coastline environment. The coastal salt marsh environment attracts wading birds, seabirds and mammals, as well as animals that have adapted to the harsh environment. Shorebirds and wading birds are abundant at Assateague. Breeding birds include piping plovers , great egrets and red-winged blackbirds . Seabirds include brown pelicans and several species of gulls and terns. Wooded habitats shelter ruby-crowned kinglets and white-eyed vireos . During

2254-631: The smaller Assateague State Park sits within the borders of this district. The only access to the Maryland District is via the Verrazano Bridge on Maryland Route 611 . The Virginia District of Assateague Island extends from the Maryland state line south to the Chincoteague Inlet. This area of the island is designated as the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). However,

2303-407: The summer, lifeguards are on duty between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The national seashore is also a popular destination for surfers, however, surfing is prohibited within the lifeguarded area. Saltwater fishing is a very popular activity at the national seashore. Anglers age 16 and older must possess a valid fishing license when fishing in Maryland or Virginia. Starting in 2011, all anglers must purchase

2352-547: The values and significance of the area”. Assateague Island encompasses a 37-mile-long barrier island , adjacent marsh islands and waters in Maryland and Virginia, and the Assateague Island Visitor Center on the Maryland mainland. 41,346 acres of land and water are within the seashore’s boundaries. The island consists of three public areas; Assateague Island National Seashore (managed by the National Park Service ), Assateague State Park (managed by

2401-405: The winter the area shelters northern birds, including brant geese and northern saw-whet owls . As a National Seashore, Assateague Island is required by federal law to protect species listed under the endangered species act. Piping Plovers, listed federally as a threatened species, fall under this category and are therefore protected on the island. During their summer breeding period, closures of

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