Horseback riding on your own horse—not on a wild horse—at Assateague Island National Seashore is allowed from early October until mid-May in the Maryland section of the park and year-round in the Virginia section. No permits are needed, but you do need to check in at the Assateague Ranger Station (Maryland) or at the Toms Cove Visitor Center (Virginia). All dates are subject to change, so for the latest info and schedule visit the official Assateague Island National Seashore’s Horseback Riding web page.
Horses are only allowed on the Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) beaches where vehicles can drive, which means on the beach, not the dunes or back trails (trails behind the dunes for hikers). There is a lot more beach available for riding in Maryland, so figure that into your plans. When the OSV beaches are closed to vehicles, they are closed to horseback riding as well.
There are two campsites in the Maryland unit of the park for those with horses. See the Horse Campground web page for details.
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Last updated on October 3, 2023