Story by Susan Friedland
Photos by Carolyn Rikje Photography
For any horse, visiting a showground for the first time is a momentous, and sometimes stressful, occasion. However, two born-in-the wild Chincoteague Pony fillies hopped off a horse trailer at World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, for Breyer Fun Day, May 17, and took their new surroundings and adoring fans all in stride. The purpose of the pairs’ first trip away from their farm was to represent a wild-roaming Chincoteague stallion family member newly minted as a Breyer model horse.
The fillies owned by Margo Gulbranson, a lifelong Misty of Chincoteague fan and owner of Saddle Up Clothing Company, were guests of Mr. Pickles and Sailor Bear Toy Shoppe, host of the event which gave attendees the opportunity to meet and touch a unique breed with a storied history—some believe the ponies are descendants of horses who survived a 1750 Spanish shipwreck. Besides petting the ponies, children and adults had the chance to paint model horses, shop for their favorite Breyers, and connect with equestrian author Susan Friedland who was signing her Marguerite Henry fangirl memoir, Marguerite, Misty and Me.
Surfer’s Harmony, a 2-year-old smoky black pony with a blaze, was sired by Surfer’s Riptide, the fan-favorite wild stallion now immortalized as a 2025 Breyer model. A portion of the Breyer Riptide sales benefit the Museum of Chincoteague and the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Riptide is a dark chestnut pony with chrome, sporting a flaxen mane and a forelock spilling halfway down his face. He lives on the southern end of Assateague Island with his band of eight mares, including Harmony’s buckskin dam, Liz’s Serenity.
Dreamer’s Hope, Harmony’s 3-year-old pasture mate, is a 14 hand chestnut sired by Ken out of Dreamer’s Gift. Hope’s two chestnut parents live in the remote northern Assateague range, which requires a long hike or a boat ride for pony seekers to view the bands. Local pony enthusiasts keep tabs on the wild herd’s behavior, documenting family units and new foals. There’s even a dedicated Chincoteague Pony Pedigree Database with records going back to the 1940s with Misty of Chincoteague’s sire and dam, Pied Piper and Phantom.The wild ponies are owned and managed by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and have names.
Gulbranson purchased her Chincoteague Ponies as foals at the Chincoteague Volunteer Firefighters Auction after attending the wild pony swim in 2022 and 2023. This July 30 marks the 100th annual Pony Penning Week, a historic event popularized by Marguerite Henry’s 1947 best-selling book Misty of Chincoteague. Gulbranson plans to attend, and has not ruled out the idea of buying another foal.
“I have two grandchildren, with a third on the way, so I’d like to have a Chincoteague Pony for each. By the time the kids grow up enough to be around the ponies, the ponies will be ready to go.” Harmony and Hope now reside at DeGraff Stables, a top tier Quarter Horse and Paint breeding farm in Reddick, Florida, where they graze and play awaiting their future careers.
Gulbranson, whose first loves were a pair of Shetlands and a Welsh Cob she adventured with on her parents dairy farm in Minnesota, believes Harmony has the potential to be a fancy driving pony and Hope a quiet riding partner. “I think they will both excel at riding and driving, but in a show ring situation, Harmony has the type of movement and presence that will make her stand out.”
Pony lovers waited in line for their turn to pet the Chincoteagues stationed in a three-sided temporary corral at the edge of the Grand Outdoor Arena. Gulbranson, with assistance from DeGraff Farm manager Dawn Smith, encouraged a few of the fans—especially shy children—to brush the ponies as a way for them to build confidence with the fillies.
Hope, the older pony, demonstrated a calm and confident demeanor, drinking in all the attention. Harmony whinnied a few times, but stood patiently, delighting pony fans with a photo opportunity with a rare and beloved breed. Several attendees who purchased the Surfer’s Riptide Breyer asked Gulbranson to sign the belly of the model—a BreyerFest meet and greet tradition.
Known for their hardiness, athleticism and great feet, Chincoteague Ponies excel in many disciplines such as dressage, eventing, fox hunting, gymkhana and more. This year’s BreyerFest at Kentucky Horse Park July 11-13, will feature the 30-year strong Chincoteague Pony Drill Team from Bloxom, Virginia, performing routines on Misty descendant ponies. Friedland will share an author talk about the legacy of Marguerite Henry alongside Misty memorabilia collector Amanda Geci.
Hope and Harmony will be off duty, grazing in their field, while their island relatives charm the BreyerFest crowd, but their appearance at WEC set the stage for what Gulbranson hopes leads to more pony meet and greets. “It was just magic. I would love to bring them to the Minnesota State Fair and introduce more people to Chincoteague Ponies. It’s a beautiful thing to share them—kids need to be around ponies.”
Discover more about Chincoteague Ponies and how to experience the 100th Pony Penning Week—whether you’re attending in person or watching from home. Join a free Facebook Live event on June 30 at 7 PM Central, hosted by author Susan Friedland on the Saddle Seeks Horse Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SaddleSeeksHorse. Hear from a panel of Chincoteague Pony experts with decades of pony swim experience, including a breed historian, a boutique pony breeder, and the founders of the International Chincoteague Pony Association and Registry. Join in to celebrate the history, heart, and heritage of the ponies made famous by Misty.
