| Chincoteague Island is a small, friendly, vacation resort | | | | soil. The refuge also includes Morris Island, Marsh on |
| along the coast of Virginia, USA. Vacations to the | | | | the Northern part of Chincoteague Island. The refuge |
| island can include recreational activities such as | | | | extends southward, Assawoman, Metompkin, and |
| shopping, swimming, sunbathing, fishing, clamming, bird | | | | Cedar Islands. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is |
| watching, nature cruises, biking, hiking, boating, kayaking, | | | | one of the most popular refuges in the United States, |
| miniature golf, Chincoteague ponies, the pony swim, | | | | especially among bird watchers. The refuge is either |
| fireman's carnival, Chincoteague decoy and art show, | | | | home to or a stop over point for a array of birds and |
| Chincoteague Center's arts and crafts show and | | | | other wildlife. Ducks, geese, swans, egrets, herons, and |
| more. | | | | dozens of other shorebirds visit or live on the islands. |
| The island is known for it's quaint shops and art | | | | The most famous Chincoteague Island event is the |
| galleries. Chincoteague area wildlife artists display art | | | | pony swim and penning, a tradition since 1924. The |
| such as decoys and other bird carvings, paintings, | | | | swim, penning and auction is held on the last |
| photographs and sculptured wildlife pieces. | | | | Wednesday and Thursday of July. Ponies are rounded |
| Located within minutes of the resort is Assateague | | | | up and swim the channel between Assateague and |
| Island, which is occupied by Assateague National Sea | | | | Chincoteague Islands. The animals are penned, |
| Shore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The | | | | inspected, fed and most of the foals auctioned off to |
| refuge covers over 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, | | | | qualified buyers. Most of the population of the ponies |
| marsh, and forest habitat. The majority of the refuge is | | | | are returned to Assateague after the penning to roam |
| located in Virginia although 418 acres are on Maryland | | | | free for another year. |