Misty of Chincoteague is a 1947 book by American author Marguerite Henry

Marguerite Henry

Marguerite Henry was an American writer. Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won...

, inspired by a real 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...

 named Misty. Set on the coastal island of Chincoteague

Chincoteague, Virginia

Chincoteague is a town on Chincoteague Island in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. The town is perhaps best known for the Chincoteague Ponies, although these are not actually on the island of Chincoteague but on nearby Assateague Island...

, 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...

, the book tells the story of the Beebe family and their efforts to raise a filly born to a wild horse. The book won the Newbery Honor. The 1961 film Misty was based on the book.

The real horse on which the book was based was actually foaled in domesticity in 1946 on Chincoteague at the Beebe Ranch

Beebe Ranch

The Beebe Ranch is an American horse ranch and museum located at 3062 Ridge Road, Chincoteague, Virginia.The museum focuses on two Chincoteague Ponies, Misty and her foal Stormy, featured in the novels Misty of Chincoteague and Stormy, Misty's Foal by Marguerite Henry...

, not in the wild on 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...

 as was told in the book.