Saltwater Pony Tours

Saltwater Pony Tours

Saltwater Pony Tours
5
Boat ToursEco ToursSightseeing ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Search the beautiful back bay areas of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands with Captain Henry or Captain Jake aboard our stable tritoon boats. We search for osprey, eagles, dolphins and the famous Chincoteague Ponies. Come join us and make a memory!
Chincoteague Island, Virginia
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024

Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours and Tickets by Saltwater Pony Tours
Travelers talk about

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,293 reviews
Excellent
1,276
Very good
12
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
1

Bill B
Camp Hill, PA21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Our family of 4 adults booked a private boat tour with Captain Henry. We were there for an Oct 15 boat tour but the weather was cold and very windy with a very high tide and Henry suggested rescheduling for later. After a second attempt with still poor conditions we rebooked for the next day. His advice was spot on and we had a great experience. He took us places that were amazing, getting us close to one herd that ran along the shore and in the water giving us a spectacular show. He was able to get us so close it was unbelievable. We not only saw the horses, but also a pod of dolphins right off our boat. The boat itself is very comfortable and the dialog with Henry pleasurable beyond measure. Don't go anywhere else for something like this. The experience was the highlight of our mini vacation in Chincoteague.
Written November 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ed B
24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
Originally my wife and I planned to go kayaking to see the ponies, but when that was no longer an option we opted for a private tour with Saltwater Pony Tours. As a photographer I was interested in a tour that would take us to the best spots to get the best shots. I wasn't disappointed! We were the only ones on this tour so that allowed us much more freedom to get a fully personalized, customized trip from Capt. Jake.

As Capt. Jake said when the ponies literally paraded past our boat, "It doesn't get better than this!" We were much closer to shore than I had ever expected or imagined. And, he generously allowed as much time as we wanted to get all the pictures.

I know there's never a guarantee that you will get to see the ponies this close on every tour, but choosing Salt Water Ponies Tour will up those chances. My tip to photographers is to pack your best telephoto lense. Even if you don't get as close to the ponies as we did on our first stop, a decent 300-400 mm lense will still get you some amazing close ups. And don't forget a wide angle to take in the beautiful scenery.

There's nothing wrong with the bigger boats and larger tours. I got fantastic pics from a large tour in 2017. But I'll still choose smaller, private boat tours like this one any day.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terri L
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
My first visit to Chiconteague was in 2019 for the famous Pony Swim Week. We booked with Saltwater Ponies for the swim and Captain Henry took us out to what was the best experience we could have asked for. He explained the history of the swim and the importance of slack tide. Animal lover himself we were swapping stories about horses and dogs we all have had while we waited for the ponies to arrive at the point of entrance. What amazing thing to see the ponies entering the channel right in front of you. The boat tour is the best way to watch the swim!! Captain Henry’s boats are immaculate and comfy too, they do have an awning if you need to stay out of the sun. I would highly recommend Saltwater Ponies I have been back every year since my first visit in 2019 and Captain Henry is who I call to book our boat tours with. Always fun and I learn something new with every visit!! Thank you Saltwater Ponies for the amazing memories we will see you next year!
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Keith
Hagerstown, MD7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
We took 2 boats out for our party of 9 on July 1st and Captain Henry and Captain Michael made sure we had a great time! We saw gray bottlenose dolphins up close, several different waterfowl feeding on the shell beds, the famous ponies and even a bald eagle perched on a tree! Speaking from my boat, Captain Henry was a friendly, knowledgeable waterman who was able to keep us both informed and entertained during our 2+ hr excursion. He even navigated our pontoon through the winding marshland to make sure we got close enough to take some prime pictures of the ponies that were out. 5 stars all the way around!
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David S
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
We were more than happy with our tour with Capt Henry! The ponies were a little difficult to find at first but Capt Henry knew where to go and went out of his way to find a very nice band of horses. He also turned the boat around on the way back in the opposite direction when he heard of a dolphin sighting behind us. We highly recommend Saltwater Pony Tours to anyone visiting the island!
Written July 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bugman1964
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
We used this company on our second family trip to Chincoteague in two years... we generally had a very good experience. The 2 hour trip was pricy (in the mid 200s for a family of 4), but this was largely due to their stringent observation of cautionary guidance in this COVID pandemic - they are limiting trips to individual parties instead of mixed groups. Our captain Jake was well informed about the area and ably guided us through the tidal marshes that abut the road causeway that leads into the National Wildlife Refuge. As a result we were able to get quite close to the pony herds - it helped that we did the trip the morning after vigorous thunderstorms... Captain Jake explained that weather like that encourages the horses to come out closer to shore because there are more freshwater puddles they can drink from near the "beaches". We also saw a school of dolphins up close, a bald eagle + nest, and one of our kids claimed she saw a sea turtle swimming by! The boat was comfortable and quite stable. We recommend this company.
Written September 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julianne F
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
This was a bucket-list trip of more than 50 years! Captain Henry (and First Mate Charlie 🐕) took us up close to the ponies all over Assateague on our Saturday tour. It was so amazing that we booked another private charter on Sunday thinking that if we saw half as much it would be worth it. It was BEYOND what we could have ever imagined! Captain Henry took us so close (and quietly ) that the ponies were literally off our bow in the marsh! Henry loves the ponies as much as we do. He’s knowledgeable about the ponies and Chincoteague history and just a great guy to spend time with. On the way home, we cruised with a big pod of dolphins and their babies! We saw eagles, ibis, egrets and many other magnificent birds! I’d recommend Salt Water Pony Tours 1000% 🦄
Written July 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melanie
Waynesboro, PA1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Family
Captain Henry was an excellent guide for our boat tour experience. He took time to provide us with the history of Chincoteague & the horses. He went above & beyond while maneuvering his boat as close as possible to shore, so we could meet the stallion Riptide & his band of mares & foals. We spent quite a bit of time just watching the horses, questioning Captain Henry, and listening to his many insights & lessons about everything Chincoteague & wild life related. We had questions about oysters, so he took us to see a clam & oyster farm. There were 3 people in our party & we felt that we had our own private Chincoteague experience. An extra added bonus was the fact that we got to interact with Captain Henry’s laid back & very friendly dog Charlie. I highly recommend adding Salt Water Pony boat tour to your itinerary when visiting Chincoteague.
Written August 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen F
Alexandria, VA3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
We booked a private tour for our family of three on a visit to Chincoteague. Our hotel was just a couple miles north of the boat slips, and parking was easy. Captain Jake greeted us from the docks and we knew this trip was going to be a fun time any way we cut it—he was very kind and had a great laid-back attitude.

The craft taking us was a 25+ foot pontoon boat—extremely comfortable. Despite being practically in the Atlantic, the boat barely rocked throughout the journey.

We were very pleased with the way in which the boat captains seemed to help each other out—at one point the radio squawked to Jake about some foal running wild along the beach, so he zipped up the coast so we could catch a glimpse. Beyond the dozens of ponies, we also saw bald eagles, herons, and plenty of pelicans and seagulls diving into the bay for breakfast.

At several points, Jake educated us on the history of the horses, how we have to balance provision of care without creating a dependency, and other aspects of outdoorsmanship and conservation. He was a great teacher and I really appreciated how patient he was in permitting her to take as must time as she wanted peering through binoculars to see the horses.

The best part of the trip was at the end when we took 15 extra minutes to see dolphins. They swam right past the boat several times—what magnificent creatures. I’d recommend this boat touring company for any family looking for a great learning experience.
Written July 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

travelfam123
Allentown, PA6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Our family booked a private tour and we were floored with what we saw and learned on this trip. My two young daughters were excited and had their heads on swivel nearly the entire time. Our guide cared enough to teach us about the local wildlife as the tour continued to different locations. We were treated to a jackpot view of the wild ponies. We made some memories this trip thanks to this company and our guide.
Written August 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 1,293
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Saltwater Pony Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All Chincoteague Island HotelsChincoteague Island Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Chincoteague IslandHotels near Saltwater Pony Tours
All things to do in Chincoteague Island
Spas & Wellness in Chincoteague IslandAmusement Parks in Chincoteague IslandDay Trips in Chincoteague Island
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars