Assateague wild ponies thrive along Assateague's extensive western shoreline of bays, secluded creeks and pine forests. Assateague ponies are found feeding on salt marsh cordgrass and this grass attracts them to the shoreline areas along Assateague Bay where loblolly pine trees meet tranquil coves and creeks. Wild ponies are seen in groups of about 5-30 animals along the shoreline. These voyages travel where very few visitors have ever been before. The ponies and their young are seen close up on a daily basis here.
Many visitors say it's the highlight of their vacation.
Pony Express Nature Tours depart from Tom's Cove Campground at the beginning of the tour and travel across the Assateague Channel to the western shoreline of Assateague to an area known as Black Duck Marsh. Here visitors can check to see if wild ponies are visible and afterwards continue far north along Assateague's shoreline and stop along the way when wild ponies and other wildlife are present. The area by the Assateague Lighthouse is just one place where wild ponies are often encountered. The pony sighting tours head many miles north of the Assateague Bridge to areas where wild ponies frequent which include Peach Creek, Cherry Hill Bay, Janey's Creek, Harmon Cove, Greenback Bay, Calfpen Bay and other productive places towards the Maryland and Virginia state line. The wild ponies have roamed the hidden areas of this 37 mile island since the 1600's.