Wild Horses!

Stardate 65721.5

12:45 - Recently, my Mom came to D.C. for adventurous shenanigans with me. So we packed up a rented VW and left for where the wild horses roam, Assateague and Chincoteague islands.

On the Maryland and Virginia coast, barrier islands are home to herds of wild horses. Horses have been domesticated for years in the U.S., so the origin of these wild horses remains a myth. One myth states the horses swam to shore in a Spanish shipwreck off in the Atlantic. The Spanish shipwreck was real, but a more probably explanation is that local colonists placed the horses here to evade taxes on horses when officials came around. The horses freed themselves and now travel the islands mostly as they please.

Assateague Island boasts of a national and state seashores to protect the environment and animals. These wild horses are considered non-native species, but the Park Rangers manage their herds without interfering in the horses' lives too much. These wild horses have adapted to the salt water marshes of the island; many of them look bloated because of the salt. These marshes have been affected by the horses living here. The grasses would usually be knee high or taller and be home to native species. The grasses we see now are only knee high to a grasshopper. Other famous residents of the island are Bald Eagles. Currently, a mother eagle has two little chicks hatches, and the state park has a camera on the nest for visitors to see the chicks.
 

This guy nearly attacked our car!

The island's seafaring history can be linked to a lighthouse build on the island. Peaking out over the trees. This lighthouse is the highest landmark on the island. Visitors can climb up for a great view of the island. Fun fact, Focus Foxies, the lighthouse light blinks twice every 5 seconds to let sailors know this is Assateague.

My Mom and I had a wild time on the islands. So wild, we were almost run out of town by the wild horses themselves. True story.