The ponies graze in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Virginia portion of Assateague Island. The Maryland Herd consists of approximately 40 Head and is owned by the Maryland Park Service. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fireman herd the ponies off their island at slack tide, through the sea water channel to Virginia. On the last Wednesday of every July, the ponies are gathered for the sale the next day. Here the baby foals are auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Slack tide is when the water is at it's calmest and the tide is neither coming in nor going out.
This is the easiest time for the ponies to cross the channel. There are approximately 180 privately owned Chincoteague Ponies scattered over the United States and Canada. In the mid 80's Gale Park Frederick founded a horse registry for the Chincoteague Ponies. They are now recognized as a pure and rare breed. Strong and Muscular.