Chincoteague firefighters are offering a $1,000 reward for information in the theft of one of its famed wild ponies.
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company reports the foal, named Dreamer's Faith, was stolen Sept. 6 or 7 from the corral area at the Chincoteague carnival grounds.
The fire company is offering the reward for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
The pony had been bought in July during an annual auction that raises money for the fire department, which cares for the Virginia herd. After the auction, the pony was donated back to the fire department so it could eventually roam free with other wild ponies for another year on the national wildlife refuge on Assateague Island.
The pony has a freeze brand of the number "15" on her left rump.
On its Facebook page, the fire company posted an impassioned statement that said it had heard from some detractors of its pony programs: "We know that a FEW are radical pony people who feel that what we have done for 90 years all of a sudden is not good enough. However, this has taken it too far."
