What is a Buyback?
Buyback History
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (CVFC) selects 6-12 foals each year to remain with the feral herd, these foals are auctioned as buybacks. Buyback purchasers are allowed to name the pony but the fire company retains ownership.
Historically foals without buyers were kept to replenish the feral herd, but this changed once all the foals were being sold. Some buyers would donate their purchase back and this became a common practice in the 1970s and 1980s. The formal buyback program known today was established in the 1990s and the ponies were originally called "turnbacks."
How to get a Buyback
Buyback's are auctioned off at the same time as the take home foals and therefore the bidding process is the same. Generally buybacks are more expensive than the take home foals due to the buyback "Owner" being given the honor of naming the foal. The most expensive buyback to date was sold for $100,000 in 2025 to the Buyback Friends, she was named Marnie.
Buyback Groups
With buyback prices averaging in the 5 figures, many people have started joining groups that pull money together to purchase one. When a group wins a buyback they either vote on what to name the foal or it is predetermined who the buyback will be bought for and that person will choose the name.
How to register your Buyback
Buyback registration was originally done by the Chincoteague Pony Association (CPA) which was run by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (CVFC) and closed in 2012. They used to issue a registration certificate that looked like their normal pony registration certificates and noted that the pony was a buyback. In the Fall of 2024 the International Chincoteague Pony Association & Registry started offering commemorative buyback registration certificates to owners so that they can share their buyback's story with others and have their pony's name officially recognized. To register your buyback please refer to our buyback registration page.
Registered Buybacks
With a few exceptions (such as the ponies that have been sold or donated to the CVFC) , all of the ponies on the Virginia side of Assateague are buybacks. This means that each pony has a buyback owner and story behind why/how they received their name. When owners register their buybacks with ICPAR they have the opportunity to share their buyback's story. Each registered buyback will have a page on our website with their story and information as well as a certificate and the ICPAR logo on their database record. Once a buyback is registered with ICPAR their registered name cannot be used for any other pony.
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (CVFC) selects 6-12 foals each year to remain with the feral herd, these foals are auctioned as buybacks. Buyback purchasers are allowed to name the pony but the fire company retains ownership.
Historically foals without buyers were kept to replenish the feral herd, but this changed once all the foals were being sold. Some buyers would donate their purchase back and this became a common practice in the 1970s and 1980s. The formal buyback program known today was established in the 1990s and the ponies were originally called "turnbacks."
How to get a Buyback
Buyback's are auctioned off at the same time as the take home foals and therefore the bidding process is the same. Generally buybacks are more expensive than the take home foals due to the buyback "Owner" being given the honor of naming the foal. The most expensive buyback to date was sold for $100,000 in 2025 to the Buyback Friends, she was named Marnie.
Buyback Groups
With buyback prices averaging in the 5 figures, many people have started joining groups that pull money together to purchase one. When a group wins a buyback they either vote on what to name the foal or it is predetermined who the buyback will be bought for and that person will choose the name.
How to register your Buyback
Buyback registration was originally done by the Chincoteague Pony Association (CPA) which was run by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (CVFC) and closed in 2012. They used to issue a registration certificate that looked like their normal pony registration certificates and noted that the pony was a buyback. In the Fall of 2024 the International Chincoteague Pony Association & Registry started offering commemorative buyback registration certificates to owners so that they can share their buyback's story with others and have their pony's name officially recognized. To register your buyback please refer to our buyback registration page.
Registered Buybacks
With a few exceptions (such as the ponies that have been sold or donated to the CVFC) , all of the ponies on the Virginia side of Assateague are buybacks. This means that each pony has a buyback owner and story behind why/how they received their name. When owners register their buybacks with ICPAR they have the opportunity to share their buyback's story. Each registered buyback will have a page on our website with their story and information as well as a certificate and the ICPAR logo on their database record. Once a buyback is registered with ICPAR their registered name cannot be used for any other pony.
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Buybacks on Assateague
Currently ICPAR only keeps a list of the registered buybacks, for a complete list of past and present buybacks please visit the Chincoteague Pony Pedigree Database. Go to the "Assateague Herds" page and there you will find options for sorting the Virginia herd. If you click on a pony name you may see the ICPAR logo on their record, this means that they are registered and you will see a link to their ICPAR buyback page. |
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International Chincoteague Pony
Association & Registry 10723 County Road 11 NE Elgin, MN 55932 (507) 923-8933 [email protected] Office Hours Monday to Friday 11 am to 4:00 pm CT |
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