MD, Assateague Island National Seashore

A soothing and enchanting atmosphere free from the entanglements and strife of the city await visitors to Assateague. Stroll along its shore and taste the salt air. Hear the rhythm of the sea as it rolls on the beach. Time passes swiftly in this land of shifting sands.

MD, Assateague Island National Seashore, a pony contemplating a swim

Gulls and terns keep vigil on a shore that was once frequented by pirates and conquistadors. Blackbeard's sunken treasure takes shape as one reflects on undulating currents. The fast pace of rush-hour traffic and crowded subways fades into the sea's reflection. The ambiance of Assateague alive and enchanting.

The island is as much a refuge to those from the city as it is a laboratory for scientists. Much of what coastal engineers know of the ocean's action on beaches has been gained through the study of Assateague. A barrier island located in one of the most turbulent areas of the Atlantic. It furnishes timely conclusions on the actions of the sea. Through the study of the destruction of jetties and boardwalks along its shore and the adjacent Ocean City Resort, man has learned that there is no better barrier to the ocean's forces than that which has existed for thousands of years. Fields of beach grass and sea oats anchor the island's sands are a key ingredient to coastal preservation. This knowledge has preserved many an oceanfront home from falling victim to its fury. Today plant stabilized dunes are the latest weapon against the seas onslaught. Now actively utilized in home construction, these plants have become essential components of beach preservation.

Plants also provide homes to a variety of animals including terns, gulls, and crabs that seek refuge from the sun and sea. The Great blue heron and snowy egret that were nearly extinct also benefit from the resurgence of these plants.

The most popular residents of Assateague are its herds of wild ponies. Numbering about 200, they mingle in the marshes with the park's nomadic visitors. Included are ducks, geese, herons, egrets and tourists who invade this area in the winter. the ponies are descendants of a shipwrecked Spanish galleon whose cargo of horses swam to safety hundreds of years ago. The antics of these brazen wild ponies are a spectacle to watch. Curious animals with a whimsical behavior is more purposeful than accidental. You will see rivalries develop if you watch for any length of time. Balancing forces in the herd emerge as the more dominant animals keep their stature by stretching out their necks, baring their teeth, and stamping their hoofs. A departure from their usual slow purposeful walk that rarely turns into a gallop. They generally move in single file with the most dominant stallion leading. And after sunset stand motionless for about 20 minutes before one by one they fall to the ground to sleep.

Campers on the island will inevitably be approached by these ponies in pursuit of food. It is wise to give them a generous berth since they are wild and unpredictable! And above all, don't feed the ponies. A handout is not only illegal but can lead to aggressive behavior by an otherwise gentle animal. Many a visitor has been chased into the ocean after feeding these small horses.