The name Chincoteague Pony is an official breed. The fire department and scores of volunteers (saltwater cowboys) bring the herds into pens during June to prepare them for auction in July after the famous “Pony Swim.” Some are sold and leave the lsland a few are “sold” but called “buy-backs” and the buyer gets to name the horse but it stays with the herd. The male in this photo, Riptide, is the son of a famous horse and now is the alpha male of the southern herd. The other pony in the photo is “Get Milk.” These were a quite distant today and trying to stay a bit out of the wind which was blowing 30 to 50 mph. Smart horse - less smart photographer..
