Assateague Island
2025-03-23By Green Snake
Horsin' Around
Assateague Island is a park on the eastern coast of Maryland. This a National Seashore in the National Park Service (NPS). What makes this park special is that it has ~100 feral horses roaming around (population). Some say they've been abandoned a long time ago and survive in the wild. Feral means domesticated but sent back into the wild.
I wanted to briefly share about this park because it's a really neat park that could benefit from more visiblity.
The Area
Before you cross the bridge, there's Assateague Market and Assateague Crab House. And of course, there's the Visitor Center. I normally enjoy collecting the official pins from the National Park Service.
It was about $25 to enter the National Seashore.
Overall, the park is small, flat, and looks like a normal beach. Except, there are ~100 horses roaming around. The park is split up into the Northern state park, and the larger National Seashore in the south. I spent a few hours in the National Seashore area.
They only have a small handful of brief hiking trails. Other than the mystical horses, I did see: cacti, grapes, ticks. I believe the grapes were "Muscadine" but I could be wrong and they could be a poisonous look-alike. They have some camping here. You can wake up and watch the horses quietly try to break into your food cooler.
As for the horses, I saw about a dozen horses. You're not allowed to touch the horses or feed them or else you'll get fined. Don't get close or they could bite or kick you. I got fairly close and the horses seemed unbothered and friendly.
The park expands even beyond the main zone of interests, but it looks like a few miles of empty beach. I didn't check those out. I went in late August and it was hot. I was sweating profusely. I stayed a bit over 2 hours, and I saw most of the main park area. I wasn't assaulted by any bugs, but I've read that people complain a lot about the bugs.
Outside the Area
Slightly north of the island is the big Ocean City. That city has mini golf, fancier restaurants, and is a touristy beach town. The far southern part of Assateague Island is the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which also has some horses.
There are also feral horses in Corolla, North Carolina. Also, Cumberland Island, Georgia. And also, Shackleford Banks, North Carolina. And more...
Pictures
Conclusion
If you're near the area, check this place out. There aren't many places with wild horses. Check out the NPS Assateague website below to plan your trip. Also, check out videos on youtube.
To Bring List
- Water
- Binoculars or monocular
- Anti bug stuff (clothes and spray)
- Beach Clothes and stuff
- Hat or Umbrella for the sun
- Road trip entertainment (book, podcast, music)