Chincoteague is a town on Chincoteague Island in Accomack County, Virginia, U.S. The population was 2,941 at the 2010 census. The town is known for the Chincoteague Ponies, although these are not actually on the island of Chincoteague but on nearby Assateague Island. These ponies and the annual Pony Penning Day are the subject of Marguerite Henry's 1947 children's book Misty of Chincoteague, which was made into the 1961 family film Misty, filmed on location.GeographyChincoteague is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 96.7sqkm, of which 23.6sqkm is land and 73.1sqkm, or 75.58%, is water.HistoryThe year of 1650 marks the first land grant issued on Chincoteague Island, for 1500acre. Daniel Jenifer became the first English landowner. In 1671, settlers came to the island, and by 1672 there were large farms by Bishops, Bowdens, Jesters and Tarrs. By 1838, there were 36 houses on the island, and in 1861 the island voted 132-2 not to secede from the Union and against slavery. The town saw minor action in the war via the Battle of Cockle Creek fought in the bay in 1861.The Native American name for the island is Gingoteague, and the name of the town "Chincoteague" first appeared in the Decisions of the United States Board on Geographical Names in 1943.
