Wild Assateague Pony

A bloodline of hardy wild ponies, reputedly the descendants of survivors from shipwrecked Spanish galleons in the 1600's. There are herds on the barrier islands of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. These are totally wild animals, fearlessly disregarding human presence, unless approached closely or feeling threatened, then they will kick and bite. They have no predators, although careless tourist vehicles kill one or two annually. Authorities in Maryland use birth control darts to keep the herd there at about 100 - 110 animals.