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On Memorial Day weekend, two wild mares gave birth right behind the campsites at Assateague State Park. Word spread through the campground, hundreds of people gathered, and a crowd that had been loud all day went completely quiet.

That’s Assateague: a barrier island where the horses go wherever they please, including your campsite and the middle of the road. Host Missy Rentz sits down with Meghan Rhode, Assistant Park Manager at Assateague State Park, a few weeks after camping there herself, to talk about the horses, the island, and how to plan a visit to Maryland’s only oceanfront state park.

In this episode:

• One Island, Three Agencies: How the state park, Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge share 37 miles of barrier island.
• Shipwreck or Tax Break: The two stories of how the wild horses got there, and which one has more history behind it.
• Born in the Campground: How the herd is managed, and the day a campground full of strangers watched a foal arrive.
• Not Chincoteague Ponies: Why Maryland’s herd is separate from the famous pony swim, and the fence that keeps them apart.
• The Soap Opera: Stallions, bands and territory fights, sometimes two campsites over from yours.
• Sharing the Island: Slow speeds, safe distances, and the horse-resistant food boxes under every picnic table.
• Why They’re Ponies: How a harsh island turned horses into shorter, sturdier animals over generations.
• Pack for the Wind: Extra-long tent stakes, your own shade, and why a west wind means bugs.
• Day Trips and Booking: The beach, the 5 Tides restaurant, and why summer weekends book up a year ahead.
• Bringing Your Dog: When pets are allowed, which loops are pet friendly, and the bur grass nobody warns you about.
• Nature’s Palette: Sunset over the marsh from the causeway, and why you should stop at the visitor center first.

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