Assateague Island is a barrier island located off the Eastern Coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is surrounded by the pounding surf of the Atlantic Ocean and the shallow expanses of Chincoteague Bay. Assateague is a priceless seashore ecosystem and a sustainable resource that all visitors can appreciate. It is considered one of the best beaches on the entire East Coast. Searching for seashells as is a favorite pastime for many as they walk along the pristine white sand. Enjoy swimming in the picturesque waves along the Atlantic coastline. Relax on Assateague’s unspoiled beaches. Visit the famous Assateague Lighthouse. Assateague is vital for resting and feeding abundant bird species. Assateague’s wild horses are well known, even to many people who have never been to the island. Virginia’s segment of Assateague Island offers people an endless array of bird watching, biking, hiking, kayaking opportunities and even a herd of wild horses!

There’s just something about the image of horses running along beaches, crashing gallantly through the surf, muscles rippling beneath their windswept coats. The allure of wild horses is what draws most annual visitors to this remote barrier island. In fact, the wild horses were the one thing I really anticipated seeing while I was there. I first learned about the Assateague horses form Marguerite Henry’s famous book Misty of Chincoteague. I have heard the dramatic tale of struggle and survival of the Assateague horses as survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast. This local folklore is not likely, no records exist to confirm it, but it makes a great story. The wild horses are tough enough to survive the scorching heat, abundant mosquitoes, stormy weather, and poor quality food found on this windswept island to form a unique wild horse society. I imagined seeing the horses display their unique behavior due to their complex social structure. People have plenty of chances to see these fabled creatures, so I hoped to have an up close and personal experience with them.

I had a dream of about seeing them. The horses ran along the beach on an early fall morning as if the world wasn’t even there. They were running side by side, two by two, in a long row, and galloping their long, graceful strides. They were gray; they were spotted; they were brown; they were white. Their manes were long and flowing, as were their tails. Their muscles rippled and danced as they ran. Their eyes sparkled bright and vibrant with life. Even though I only dreamed it, I still become breathless in complete awe. What a sight to see!

One day, I set out to find my wild ponies. I rented a decent bike from the Best Western Inn . The brakes were primed, the chain was clean, and the wheels were aligned correctly. Excitement grew inside of me as I knew I was one step closer to seeing my wild ponies. I drew my right foot up to the pedal and started pedaling. I pedaled harder and harder to reach Assateague Island. The anticipation inside me was fueling my body to pedal faster. As I rode my bike, I took out my camera to snap pictures of landscape. My bike swerved from side to side as I took one hand off the handlebar and a car honked at me. I gave the driver an angry look because wild horses are shy creatures and must be approached with caution. A wild horse’s natural instinct for defense is flight; the driver could have scared off my wild ponies.

While searching for bands of wild horses, I looked for signs of signs of horse activity, with the main sign being large piles of manure left as territorial markings. I could not find any droppings. I kept my ears open for the sound of horse communication such as nickering, squealing or whinnying. However, the wind on Assateague Island overwhelmed my ears and I could not hear. I rode the bike through the woods, through the wildlife loop, through the beach, through short trails, through long trails, up to the Assateague Lighthouse until I covered every square inch of the island. I looked at maps to focus my attention on the places marked “Pony View,” but I found nothing. My excitement was slowly turning into disappointment as the morning turned into the afternoon and I was forced to return the rental bike. I only came back with tons of mosquito bites.

Later that evening, I scheduled a sunset kayak tour. According to the guide, I was guaranteed to see wild ponies. He said they ran through the marsh minutes before I arrived at the dock. Hearing that made my hope rise. I was definitely going to see them. Kayaking through Assateague, I could feel my muscles beginning to burn as I placed the right side of my paddle blade in the water and rotated my torso. I heard the water slide off my paddle as I continued my motions without a break. As we neared the waterside of Lighthouse, I paddled faster and almost ran over Kelsey and Benjy. I smelled the manure that the horses left behind. I glaced around but saw no signs of my wild horses. Again, I was filled with disappointment.

Finally, I found my wild ponies in a corral. They munched on hay and looked as upset as I was feeling. My heart went out to them. I learned that they were rounded up over the weekend to be given shots. Even though I found my wild ponies I still felt disappointed. I had a vision for what my day was going to be like. I got excited and planned and prepped for that day. I got so worked up about it. I planned and invested my time, energy, and emotions. I got my hopes up that things were going to work out and then when they did not, I felt disappointed. Life can be full of disappointments sometimes.

by Liz Shandor ‘11