Forest and Stream, September 17, 1874

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reprinted from New York HeraldFields -- Livestock - Horses

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND PONIES. -- The annual penning of the ponies for the purpose of sale and branding took place on the 18th ult. at Chincoteague, Accomac county, Va. The King of Chincoteague, Kendall Jester, came in first with about "fifty head of critters," as the native islanders call the ponies, and by three o'clock at least 250 were in the pen. The sale was a slow one, not more than a dozen, all told, being disposed of, and at prices averaging some $60. The owners are evidently a little excited on the subject of the market value of these animals, and are holding them too high for the purposes of speculators. The original stock from which these ponies sprung held possession of this island before it was trod by human feet. It is believed that a vessel was wrecked along the coast having on board Shetland ponies, and that some of them swam ashore. They have been intermixed with imported blood, however, and now only bear resemblance to the real Shetland pony in that they are small. Some of them are very handsome, and are full of spirit and fire. I drove one to a sulky on the beach at a gait inside of 3:45, and without the slightest training. They run wild on the island. Very few are ever broken to harness, and in no instance do they ever taste a mouthful of grain. King Jester had a mare in his drove from which he has sold $1,100 worth of colts, none over and most of them at rates much less than $100 apiece. After the colts had been branded they were again turned loose to roam and feed at will over the entire island. Altogether there are some 500 of them..