Assateague Island Alliance

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Assateague Island Alliance

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Assateague Island Alliance is the 501c3 official Friends group created to support Assateague Island National Seashore.

Learn more: https://assateagueislandalliance.org/ Assateague Island Alliance (AIA) was established in 2008 as the friends group for Assateague Island National Seashore (Berlin, MD). As a 501c3 organization, all donations to AIA are tax deductible. Proceeds benefit Assateague Island National Seashore http://www.nps.gov/asis

10/17/2026

Fall certainly brings another palette of colors to the island's landscape!

The pickleweed has turned red, the saltmarsh cordgrass is taking on a golden hue, there are pops of yellow as the seaside goldenrod blooms in the dunes, specks of orange dot the sky with migrating monarch butterflies, and the fluffy white blossoms of the groundsel tree are everywhere you turn.

What's your favorite sign of fall on Assateague?

10/16/2026

Did you see Assateague Island Alliance on CoastLife TV recently?!

Outreach Coordinator, Ashlie Kozlowski, and Board Member, Kim Johnson, did an excellent job sharing our mission of awareness, education, and stewardship.

Full clip in the comments ⬇️

10/14/2026

There seems to be a lot of new faces around here and we are so excited to have you here. If you're new, or just need a re-introduction, WELCOME!

Assateague Island Alliance is the official 501c3 nonprofit Friends group to the National Seashore.

We partner with the Assateague Island National Seashore to promote awareness and stewardship of the island’s natural and cultural resources, expand education and outreach, and fund initiatives that enhance the park for current and future generations.

10/03/2026

AIA was honored to participate in the 2026 Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit this week, teaching our visitors and others how to appreciate and respect the Assateague Island National Seashore. Thanks to Ashlie Kozlowski, Outreach Coordinator, and Bob Langan, Board Director, for teaching others about the rationale for staying 40 feet from the horses (practicing SAFE SELFIES), why the horses shouldn’t be petted or fed and obeying the rules of the island (no speeding). Enjoy our photos capturing the event.

10/01/2026

🐴 October 2026 Horse of the Month: N9BM-J “Giggles”

Our October Horse of the Month is N9BM-J, “Giggles,” a beautiful chestnut mare who also happens to celebrate her birthday this month!

Giggles was born October 21, 2011, and will turn 15 years old this month. She was named by Elizabeth Harold of Louisiana. Her sire was N9BFNSZ “Fonzi,” a chestnut stallion, and her dam was N9BM “Princess,” a bay pinto mare.

Giggles has had several descendants over the years: Adriana’s Happy Camper, Billy Bob, A Flame for Coltie, Goldenrod, Rainybug, and her newest addition, N9BM-JY, her chestnut c**t born July 31, 2026.

Many of you have especially enjoyed watching Giggles and her family this year. Her current band includes her daughters Goldenrod and Rainybug, along with her 2026 c**t, and they can often be seen with stallion Tommy Thunderbolt Nektosha. Their range has given visitors some wonderful opportunities to observe this family doing what Assateague’s horses do best — simply being wild.

You can foster N9BM-J “Giggles”, or any horse on Assateague Island National Seashore (AINS), Maryland, by visiting the Assateague Island Alliance website. Additionally, you can explore our FAQs to learn more about the horse bands, including how they survive on the island, where they find drinking water, what they do during storms, and more.

The money from your donation goes to AINS to help fund horse interns, provide educational materials, and more. Fostering a horse also makes an ideal gift for that special someone who loves Assateague and its wild horses.

🎂 October Birthdays

🐴 Linda Rae’s Autumn Glory — October 2, 2017
🐴 N9BM-J “Giggles” — October 20, 2011
🐴 Bonnie — October 2002 (exact date unknown)

Happy Birthday to all of our October horses! 🎉

Thanks to ALL for helping us to “Keep ’Em Wild!”

And remember to “Give’em 40” — Give them space, keep them safe.

09/25/2026

Beach Yoga is cancelled tomorrow 9/26/26 due to the significant impacts of the nor'easter affecting Assateague Island National Seashore and the Atlantic coast. Thank you to everyone who practiced with AIA and Zenna Wellness this season! See you next summer when Beach Yoga returns for it's 15th year! Joins us Saturdays at 8am June through September. Full Moon and Milky Way Yoga dates will be announced spring 2027.

P.S. For those following along with our coastal ecology mini lessons, from an ecological standpoint, storms showcase barrier island dynamics at their finest. If you have the ability to safely visit the accessible areas of Assateague Island while the storm churns off the coast, you will see the natural forces at play actively moving sand, reshaping the islands ecosystems, and creating critical habitat for wildlife such as over-wash fans for the endangered piping plover.

Photo courtesy of Kim Johnson

09/16/2026

🦌 Don’t Forget About Assateague’s Other Wild Residents!
The wild horses may get most of the attention at Assateague, but they aren’t the only animals that call the island home. Keep an eye out for the beautiful sika deer!

Sika deer are smaller than the more familiar white-tailed deer, and despite their name, they’re actually more closely related to elk. They can often be spotted quietly moving through the marshes, forests and along the roadsides—especially around dawn and dusk.

As you enjoy Assateague, remember that all wildlife deserves space and respect. Never approach, feed or attempt to interact with a sika deer, and always be alert while driving. Wildlife can step into the roadway with very little warning.

Take your photos from a respectful distance, enjoy the privilege of seeing them in their natural habitat, and allow them to remain exactly what makes Assateague so special—wild.

Every animal on Assateague deserves to be seen, respected and protected.

09/10/2026

Due to the west wind carrying relentless biting insects to the beach, Milky Way Yoga at Assateague Island National Seashore is CANCELLED tonight, 9/10/26. We look forward to more favorable conditions and enjoyable practice at Beach Yoga this and every Saturday morning through September at 8am!

09/01/2026

September 2026, Horse Of The Month:
T3DHT, Coco, is a gorgeous Buckskin and the only one. She was born in April 1995, so she is one of the older mares on the island. Her sire was N10G "Trigger" Palomino tobiano with star, four stockings and her dam was T3DH, (Buffy), a Bay. She had one descendant T3DHT-H "Gizmo" a Bay who was sadly passed away from a car strike. Coco has a usual range of KM 33 to the MD/VA state Line with her stallion, N6BKOS-H, Foxy’s Gift, and another band mate named T3DH-D, Sapphire who is also her sister.

You can foster T3DHT, Coco or any horse on Assateague Island National Seashore (AINS), Maryland, by going to [https://assateagueislandalliance.org](https://assateagueislandalliance.org/). Additionally, you can explore our FAQs that tell you more about the horse bands, including how they survive on the island (where they find drinking water, what they do during storms, etc.)

The money from your donation goes to the AINS to help with funding horse interns, providing educational materials and more. Know that fostering a horse is an ideal gift for that student who is “going back to school” or that special someone who is having a birthday.

Thanks to ALL for helping us to “Keep ‘Em Wild!” And remember to “Give’em 40,” Give them space, keep them safe. When you visit the island, please for the sake of the wildlife and other visitors follow the rules posted around the park.

Address

7206-2 National Seashore Lane
Berlin, MD
21811

Telephone

+14436145375

Website

https://assateagueislandalliance.org/

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