Assateague Lighthouse, located on Assateague Island, Virginia,
was built in 1833 and stands inside the Chincoteague National
Wildlife Refuge halfway between the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.
The Wildlife Refuge is the home of the Eastern Shore wild
horse herds. Legend holds that the horses are descendants of the
survivors of the Greyhound, a sailing ship that ran aground on
the island in a storm. However, the island had been used for
centuries as an area for free-roaming grazing. Thus, the actual
origin of the horses may never be known.
The annual horse round up is a major event in July, drawing
visitors from around the world. Lodging is difficult--if not
impossible--to find during the weeks preceding the round up.
Other wildlife that can be found on the island include
migrating birds, fox, and Sika deer.
DO You Have A Wildlife Web Site? If you
do, you can become a W.W.A.G. Affiliate.
