The herd contained 81 horses in June, according to the Assateague Island Alliance, up from 79 in May.
Seven foals have been born this year.
The number of deaths was not reported.
The list indicates names and bands, but not sex, so the ratio of females to males cannot be determined.
Mares outnumbered stallions 1.7 to 1 in March.
If the herd has organized into fourteen bands and only seven mares gave birth, the breeding population must be around 21, not 81.
Why aren’t the advocates concerned about genetic diversity?
The safe, proven and reversible darting program was shut off in 2016.
RELATED: Assateague Pony Census, May 2023.
Western Horse Watchers Association 