According to the Facebook pages of both the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce and Certified Visitor Center and Chincoteague Pony History, the annual pony auction July 25, 2024, on Chincoteague Island yielded two historic sales records.

Longstanding tradition

On this Virginia barrier island, the annual roundup of the wild ponies from neighboring Assateague Island and the auction of selected young stock is a longstanding tradition that benefits the local fire company. The “pony penning” was made famous in Marguerite Henry’s classic 1947 children’s book, “Misty of Chincoteague,” which was based on the life of a real island pony and the family who loved her.

At this year’s auction, a total of 88 ponies were sold for a record total of $547,700, with the average bringing $6,223. The total figure included seven buybacks, with the highest of these bringing a bid of $50,500, also a new record.

A Misty Descendant

According to Chincoteague Pony History’s social media post, “This little filly has quite the pedigree—her dam, WH Wildfire, was a descendant of Misty herself, and her sire is the island’s most popular pony, Surfer’s Riptide.

“Earlier this year, saltwater cowboys discovered the filly’s mother gravely ill, and the mare tragically died despite all attempts to save her. The orphaned foal was brought to the Leonard family’s farm and was nursed by one of their mares.

“The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (who owns and manages the wild ponies) decided to keep her as a buyback, a foal who stays wild on the island. Buybacks are auctioned off, but instead of buying the pony, the winning bidder wins the rights to name the pony. ‘Buying’ a buyback is basically making a big donation to the fire company.

“There are now several groups of pony fanatics who pool their money to ‘buy’ buybacks every year, and one such group won the auction with a hefty $50,500 donation to the fire company.”

To view auction details and stats from this and previous years, visit www.chincoteaguechamber.com/auction-day.

Landing page image of 2024 auction from Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce and Certified Visitor center’s social media