Assateague Island is a protected 37-mile long barrier island near Ocean City in Maryland and Chincoteague Island in Virginia. Actually, two thirds of the island belong to Maryland and one third to Virginia.

The island declared Assateague Island National Seashore as a national park in 1965 to protect the birds’ nesting areas along with over 300 wild horses. The island has more than 37 miles of beautiful sandy beaches, dense pine forests, and vast salt marshes, and it is tantamount to paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers. The best way to explore this pristine area is by kayak or hiking.

There are organized wildlife tours, and visitors can see not only wild ponies roaming freely but also egrets, peregrine falcons, osprey, waterfowl, and many other birds.

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