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Article: Islanders recall tales of pirates, ponies past.(Washington Weekend)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- August 31, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. - Legend has it that a Spanish galleon, caught in a sudden squall, ran aground off the coast of Virginia, spilling its cargo into the sea, including 15 Moor ponies bound for Peru.
Led by an indomitable stallion, the herd fought to land and straggled ashore on Assateague Island - where, living off salt marsh grass and myrtle leaves, the ponies have thrived wild and free ever since.
This legend, perpetuated by Marguerite Henry's Newberry Award-winning children's book, "Misty of Chincoteague," is the way most "come heres" (as anyone from the mainland is called) first hear of Chincoteague, pronounced "shink a tig" and Assateague ...