Since they take care of themselves in all seasons without help from people. The ponies are considered wild animals.
Any wild animal can be dangerous and the ponies are no exception.
They appear tame and gentle but may become aggressive very quickly. Feeding the ponies and any other wildlife is unhealthy for the animals, dangerous for the visitors and strictly prohibited. Enjoy the ponies from a distance. The ponies are split into two main herds, one on the Virginia end and one on the Maryland end of Assateague. These herds have divided themselves into bands of two to ten animals and each band occupies a home range.