Chincoteague ponies, some from Misty bloodline, donated to Virginia herd

The Chincoteague pony herd in Virginia is getting some new members, thanks to a donor who wants to remain anonymous.

The private buyer has bought and sold many Chincoteague ponies over the years and was looking to thin out his herd, according to Denise Bowden, spokeswoman for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns and cares for the Chincoteague ponies.

"He wants to thin out his herd and talked to our pony committee to see if we wanted them first," Bowden said, adding, "We jumped on it because our herd on the beach is down in numbers."

All the donated ponies have the Chincoteague bloodline and three are from Misty's bloodline.

Misty was the Chincoteague pony made famous by Marguerite Henry's 1947 novel, "Misty of Chincoteague," and the 1961 film, "Misty."

"The donor asked to remain anonymous and we honor his wishes," Bowden said.

The ponies are staying at the Chincoteague carnival grounds at present.

One of the ponies is a female named "Chili," born in the corral during the 2016 Chincoteague Chili and Chowder Cook Off.

Chili's mother was Cloudburst, who died a few days after Chili was born.

"She was bottle fed and went on to be a healthy, beautiful pony and we are happy to have her back with us," Bowden said.

The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company listed the names and details about the donated ponies on its Facebook page:

Palomino Pinto: Sundance
Chestnut Pinto: Wildfire
Bay Pinto (Taller & more white markings) : Summer
Bay Pinto (Shorter & more chunky) : Winter Moon
Liver Chestnut Yearling: Surfette
Black & White Yearling: Calendar Girl
White Yearling (Colt): Winter

Chili, AKA Lil Miss Hot Stuff.

Darcy Cole, of DSC Photography — who is known for her photographs of Chincoteague ponies, including of each new foal born to the herd — photographed the new arrivals in the corral.

The ponies will be taken to Assateague during the spring round up in April, "where they will live out the rest of their natural lives on the island," Bowden said.

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