The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a 14000 acres (56.7 km²) wildlife preserve operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...

. It is primarily located on the Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

 side of Assateague Island

Assateague Island

Assateague Island is a long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is best known for its herds of feral horses, pristine beaches, and the Assateague Lighthouse. The island also contains numerous marshes, bays and coves, including Toms Cove...

 with portions (only about 3%) located on the Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

 side of the island as well as Morris Island and Wildcat Marsh. The refuge contains a large variety of wildlife animals and birds including the Chincoteague Pony

Chincoteague Pony

The Chincoteague Pony, also known as the Assateague horse, is a breed of pony that developed and lives in a feral condition on Assateague Island in the United States states of Virginia and Maryland. The breed was made famous by the Misty of Chincoteague series written by Marguerite Henry starting...

.

Other attractions within the refuge include:

• Herbert H. Bateman Education & Administration Center
• Woodland Trail observation deck
• Assateague Light
  Assateague Light
  Assateague Light is the lighthouse located on the southern end of Assateague Island off the coast of the Virginia Eastern Shore, USA.The lighthouse is located within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and can be accessed by road from Chincoteague Island over the Assateague...
  
  house
• Beach Road

External links

• Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Official website from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website.
• Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Overview
• Chincoteague: A National Wildlife Refuge (1947) by Rachel Carson