Discover Delmarva: Salt Water Pony Tours

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. — Sunshine, saltwater, and wild ponies — Chincoteague Island has all those things and more to offer visitors looking to experience the beauty of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. For 15 years, Salt Water Pony Tours has been giving tourists a chance to get even closer to the island’s most famous residents, taking passengers through the marshes and waterways where these wild ponies roam.

“We start out by leaving the marina and heading out to the Assateague Channel — that’s our southern herd. It’s broken up into a couple bands; I know everyone loves to come see our main stallion, Riptide. When we go over there, our bands are stallions with their mares,” Tour Guide Amber Goldstein said. 

“We’re looking for dolphins, all kinds of birds, migrating shore birds, eagles, osprey. We’re looking for, of course, the wild Chincoteague ponies,” owner of Salt Water Pony Tours Captain Henry Snyder said.

Captain Henry and Amber promised we’d get up close, and we sure did!

“We will take you to see the ponies, whether we have to drive all the way up north. We’re going to get as close as possible,” Goldstein said.

“They frequently graze on the back of Assateague Island. That’s why we’re able to get close to them,” Captain Henry said.

May through July is the perfect time to see magical moments between mares, stallions, and their foals — as these little guys explore the thousands of acres they have to roam when they’re not busy sneaking in a nap.

“When they’re first born, they’re kind of lethargic; they’re going to nurse and take a nap, then nurse, get up, and take nap. . . But as they get a little older, they start moving around more and they go through this blissful stage where they’re racing back and forth and playing tag with each other,” Captain Henry said.

While the scenery is breathtaking, watching the ponies is an experience like no other.

“They’re all part of a big family. It’s incredible,” Goldstein said.