The Beebes were hesitant, but agreed to sell Misty if Henry would include their grandchildren Paul and Maureen in the book. Henry also wanted to buy a foal from the ranch named Misty. She told the Beebes it would help make their ranch famous and they would be able to sell a lot of ponies reared there. While on Chincoteague, Henry met the owners of Beebe Ranch, and was inspired to write about it. This long-time tradition involved “Saltwater Cowboys” rounding up feral ponies on nearby Assateague Island and having them swim the channel to Chincoteague, where they would be auctioned off. Henry was there to witness the annual pony swim and auction. Marguerite Henry was inspired to write her book Misty of Chincoteague while spending a summer on the titular island in 1946. Her pinto coat still looks fluffy and shiny, and her lifeless eyes still hold hints of the sweetness that endeared her to children around the world. The body of the real-life Misty of Chincoteague is displayed for all to see. What is perhaps the most beloved pony in children’s literature is preserved in more than just books and movies.
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