THE ASSATEAGUE WILD PONIES ISLAND OF YOU CAN WATCH ’EM, BUT YOU CAN’T RIDE ’EM

Assateague and Chincoteague

ssateague is what’s known as a barrier island, which is a long, relatively narrow island running parallel to a mainland. Thirty-seven miles (60 km) long, Assateague Island sits just off the eastern coast of the Delmarva Peninsula, a landmass that spans three states. The peninsula’s unusual location is how it got its name: for Delaware, for Maryland, and for Virginia. The island of Assateague itself is split between Maryland and Virginia.