Misty of Chincoteague

Misty and Marguerite Henry. The Pictorial Life Story of Misty.

Misty at Beebe Ranch in 1969. Photo by Joseph Spies.

Misty of Chincoteague was foaled July 20, 1946 at Beebe Ranch on Chincoteague Island. Her sire was the chestnut pinto Pied Piper, and her dam was the smokey black pinto Phantom. Misty was a 12 hand palomino pinto with the map of the United States on her side, and a blaze shaped like the state of Virginia. She was born into the Beebe Ranch pony herd owned by Clarence "Grandpa" Beebe and Ida "Grandma" Beebe. Their grandchildren Paul and Maureen Beebe were living with them on the ranch when Misty was born.

Clarence Beebe

Ida Beebe

Maureen and Paul Beebe

Famed children's author Marguerite Henry visited Chincoteague in 1946 for Pony Penning to find a story for a book. While on Chincoteague she stayed at Miss Molly's Inn on Main Street. She met the Beebe's and upon meeting Misty and Phantom she wanted to buy Misty to take back with her to be the model for her book. Clarence at first refused, but sold her after Mrs. Henry said she would include his grandchildren Maureen and Paul in the book. Marguerite has instantly fell in love with the newborn Misty and described her as "as new as the morning and as silky as milkweed floss". Misty was sold for $150, paid by Marguerite's publisher, and was shipped to Illinois after she was weaned from Phantom.

Miss Molly's Inn

Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Misty arrived at Mole Meadow in Wayne, Illinois on November 18, 1946. Mrs. Henry was at first unsure if Clarence had sent her the right pony because Misty had grown such a thick woolly winter coat all of her beautiful markings had disappeared. However, come spring Misty shed out and Mrs. Henry was found that she was the same pony that she had met on Chincoteague. Misty stayed with Mrs. Henry for over ten years, appearing for her fans at schools, movie theaters, museums, libraries, and horse shows. The profits from Misty of Chincoteague helped pay for the barn she lived in at Mole Meadow. Misty shared her barn with Marguerite Henry's Morgan Horse Friday and Brighty, the inspiration for Brighty of the Grand Canyon. She was trained to ride and perform tricks such as standing on a stool and shaking hooves that Misty because famous for. Misty was often ridden by neighbor boy Ed Richardson, who would also play Maureen Beebe when Misty and Marguerite made public appearances. Misty adored Marguerite Henry and would do anything for her. For others Misty was nippy, opinionated, and it wasn't uncommon for her to dump her rider. Because Marguerite asked it of her, Misty calmly handled the commotion and many people at public appearances. Misty was invited inside the Henry's house for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner where she would eat her oats off a needlepoint chair. A birthday party was thrown every year for Misty. Misty was the only equine member of the American Library Association and attended their convention in 1950. She attended the Chicago Book Fair in November 1954.

Misty, Brighty, and Friday with Marguerite Henry aboard, Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Misty's Birthday Party, Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Misty at the 1950 ALA Convention, Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Misty was sent back to the Beebe's in 1957 to have her foals. A goodbye party with over 300 children and 160 adults in attendance was held at Mole Meadow. Misty wore a garland bought by her publisher Rand McNally. Life Magazine was on hand for the occasion. Don Leonard and his family drove a trailer from Chincoteague to Mole Meadow to pick up Misty and take her back to the island.

Marguerite Henry and Misty. Pictorial Life Story of Misty.

Clarence Beebe and Misty in 1957. Photo courtesy of Louise Ward.

The first and most famous book Misty of Chincoteague was published in 1947. It is centered on Misty, her mother Phantom, Paul Beebe, and Maureen Beebe. Misty and its sequels are fiction, but are based on real people, ponies, places, and events. The book is a best seller, a Newbery Honor Book in 1948, Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list in 1961, NAPPA Honors Award Winner, and Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner. The book was adapted into a children's picture book series by Joan Nichols in 1987. After Misty's book became a bestseller the publisher Rand McNally rewarded Clarence Beebe with a $350 check as a thanks for selling Misty to Mrs. Henry for inspiration.

The second book Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague was published in 1949. Mrs. Henry was inspired to write Sea Star after an orphaned foal was found while visiting Chincoteague during Pony Penning 1948. Misty was a character in Sea Star. The real pony was still living in Illinois at Mole Meadow.

The third book Stormy, Misty's Foal was published in 1963. Stormy is about the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 and the arrival of Misty's last foal Stormy. The events in Stormy that happened to Clarence, Ida, Paul, and Maureen in the book actually happened to Ralph and Jeanette Beebe and three of their children; Dennie, Billy, and Lee. Misty's barn flooded due to the storm, so she lived in Ralph and Jeanette's kitchen for three days before being moved to Pocomoke City to foal. Misty and Stormy appeared in theaters and schools to help raise money to replenish the herds on Assateague after the storm. Despite the storm's wrath Pony Penning was held that year thanks to Misty, Stormy, and her friends.

Misty and Stormy, book cover inspiration. Pictorial Life Story of Misty.

National Geographic

Ralph Beebe, Misty, Stormy, and Marguerite Henry, The Daily Times

A nonfiction book entitled A Pictorial Life Story of Misty was published in 1976, and told of the real Misty's life with Marguerite Henry. Dear Readers and Riders, Dear Marguerite Henry, and The Illustrated Marguerite Henry also featured photo and tales of the real Misty. Misty was the central example of a Chincoteague Pony in Album of Horses. Stories about Misty appeared in Life Magazine, June 10, 1957, May 23, 1960, and May 26, 1961. She was also written about in National Geographic dated December 1962 and in National Geographic School Bulletin dated May 7, 1962.

Misty and Phantom Wings cover illustration of The Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Misty's illustration in Album of Horses

Picture of Misty in Dear Readers and Riders

Mrs. Henry wrote her last Misty book Misty's Twilight in 1992. It is about Misty's great great grandfoal Misty's Twilight who was a successful show horse. Twilight's dam Sunshine, a granddaughter of Stormy, was also a central character. Misty had died several years before the time of the events of the book. Like the other Misty books the story is fiction based on real events.

A movie called Misty was released in 1961 by Twentieth Century Fox. Misty depicted the events in Misty of Chincoteague. Misty herself was not in the movie, she was too old to play the role of a young foal. Three ponies, a suckling, a weanling, and a yearling, played the part of Misty. The suckling was bay foal named Emma that had her coat bleached to match, before and after photos are seen in A Pictorial Life Story of Misty. Many of the movie ponies were owned by the Burton family on Chincoteague. The movie was directed by James. B Clark and the screenplay was written by Ted Sherdeman. The majority of the filming for Misty was done on Chincoteague and Assateague. Most of the people in the movie were locals, there were only six professional actors in Misty. Billy Beebe played "Tommy", and Denny Beebe rode the pony Patches in the movie. The premiere of Misty on Chincoteague was in 1961, and Misty was led down Main Street by Ralph Beebe. In front of the theater Misty put her front hoof prints in the cement and Marguerite Henry wrote Misty's name underneath. 800 people packed the Island Theater for the premier. An estimated 20,000 attended the festivities on the island. One of the foals that played a young Misty was a relative of hers. She was named Misty II and attended the premier on with Misty. Misty II was originally intended to be a gift to Caroline Kennedy, but she was later offered in a raffle in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Richmond, Virginia. A unseen/unsold TV show pilot was filmed in 1962 which was based on Misty. Movie cast members Arthur O'Connell, Pam Smith and David Ladd starred in the pilot.

Marguerite Henry, a movie Misty, David Ladd, and Misty. Pictorial Life Story of Misty.

Misty, Marguerite Henry, Wesley Dennis, and Misty II at movie premiere. The Daily Times.

Misty's hoofprints in front of the Island Theater

Misty had three foals; Phantom Wings, Wisp O' Mist, and Stormy. A chestnut pinto Chincoteague Pony named Wings sired all three of Misty's foals. Wings got his name because of a pinto marking he had in the shape of wings. Phantom Wings was Misty's first foal and only son. He was a palomino pinto with pinto markings of the map of the United State and another like wings. Phantom Wings was foaled on April 6, 1960 and died in 1964. Phantom Wings's name was chosen in a contest sponsored by Misty's publisher Rand McNally. The name was submitted by Carol and Cheryl Costello, twin girls from Wessington Springs, South Dakota. Misty's second foal was a solid chestnut filly named Wisp O' Mist, and nicknamed Little Wisp. Her name was chosen by Marguerite Henry from the list of names left over from the contest to name Phantom Wings. Wisp was foaled March 21, 1961 and died in 1964. Phantom Wings and Wisp O' Mist tragically both died the same day after they had broken into a cow pasture and got sick off the cow feed. Misty's most famous foal was depicted in her own book, Stormy, Misty's Foal. Stormy was a chestnut pinto with a star in the shape of a crescent moon. Stormy was foaled on March 11, 1962 in Pocomoke City, Maryland and died in 1993 at age 31 in Pennsylvania.

Misty, Marguerite Henry, Wesley Dennis, and Phantom Wings. Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Wisp O' Mist, Stormy, and Misty at Beebe Ranch. Pictorial Life Story of Misty.

Clarence and Paul Beebe had unfortunately died before the birth of Phantom Wings. Paul Beebe died at age 21 in a car accident on Chincoteague in April 1957. Clarence Beebe died in June 1957. Ida Beebe died in October 1960. Clarence, Ida, and Paul Beebe are buried on Chincoteague in Greenwood Cemetery on Bunting Road. Maureen Beebe Hursh died in May 2019. Her daughters have established a scholarship fund in her name. They auctioned Maureen's Stubben saddle at the 2022 Pony Penning auction to benefit the fund. On November 26, 1997 beloved author Marguerite Henry died at her home in Rancho Santa Fe, California at age 95. Her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Clarence Beebe died a month after Misty returned to Chincoteague, and Ida Beebe asked their son Ralph to take care of Misty. Misty spent the rest of her life greeting her fans at Beebe Ranch in the care of Ralph and Jeannette Beebe. She lived to know four of her grandfoals. Misty died in her sleep at 9:30 AM on October 16, 1972 at age 26. She was taxidermied by Charles Oxenham of Glen Burnie, Maryland. The Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm became the home of the preserved Misty and was displayed at the farm for many years. After Stormy's death in 1993, she was also taxidermied and put on display at the Pony Farm. Both ponies are currently in the care of the Museum of Chincoteague Island courtesy of the Beebe family. They are the centerpiece of a display on Misty which includes Beebe Ranch artifacts and memorabilia.

Last known photo of Misty, Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Charles Oxenham. Associated Press.

Ralph Beebe died suddenly of a heart attack in December 1973 and the Misty family ponies were without a home. The Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm owned by Paul and Helen Merritt and their son Greg Merritt became the home of Misty's family for nearly two decades. Visitors from all over the country and the world visited the farm to see Misty's family up close. Many members of the Misty family were born, lived, and died at the small farm at the corner of Maddox Boulevard and Deep Hole Road. The Pony Farm, Paul Merritt, and Greg Merritt were mentioned in Misty's Twilight. In A Pictorial Life Story of Misty the Pony Farm and its famous residents were written about and pictured. Cloudy, Wisp O' Mist's only foal, became somewhat famous as he entertained the farm's visitors with the many tricks taught to him by his previous owner Ed Clark. Stormy spent most of her life at the Pony Farm. Paul Merritt retired and started selling off Misty's descendants. He leased the farm to Ruth Calvo and later to Mike Pryor. The Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm finally closed after Pony Penning 1995. Great grandson Rainy's Boy was the last Misty descendant to live on the property. In 2004, the famous red barn that housed Misty's family for so many years was torn down after it had stood vacant for several years. The gift shop and cinder block building that was once the "Misty Museum" still stand. Paul Merritt died in 2005 after a long illness. Greg Merritt died in 2014. Helen Merritt died in 2021.

Stormy and Misty II in 1978. Photo courtesy of Deb Noll

Cloudy in a Pony Farm promotional photo

When the Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm closed there was no longer a place for Chincoteague visitors to see Misty descendants. The Chincoteague Pony Centre opened on Chicken City Road in 2000 with the mission to showcase the Chincoteague Pony. The Centre was owned by Richard and Carolyn Conklin. From 2000 to 2017 the Centre's ponies were from the herd of Kendy Allen who is most famously known as the owner of Misty II. Misty family and veterans of the pony swim were on display. The ponies and the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team showed off their talents in a nightly pony show. The museum had a large collection of Misty memorabilia including pictures, books, model horses, and artwork. Misty's last grandfoal, Misty II, spent her last summer at the Centre and is buried on the property.

Misty ponies and swim veterans at the Chincoteague Pony Centre, Photo courtesy of Kendy Allen

Great Granddaughters of Misty at the Chincoteague Pony Centre

Marguerite Henry's home Mole Meadow and the barn where Misty lived still stands. It is located on Army Trail Road in Wayne, Illinois. The property is privately owned. In 1996 Misty II was invited to visit her grandmother's former home. Down the road from Mole Meadow is Misty's Meadow, a three acre forest preserve and park at the corner of Army Trail and Dunham Roads. It was named that after it won a contest conducted by Wayne Elementary School in 1997 to name the park. The park is maintained by the village of Wayne.

Margurite Henry and Misty at Mole Meadow. Pictorial Life Story of Misty.

Misty II at Mole Meadow.

Misty's Meadow in Wayne, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Susan Friedland.

Ralph and Jeanette Beebe's son Billy King Beebe developed his old home at Beebe Ranch into a museum. His mother Jeannette passed away in 2002. The property at 3062 Ridge Road reopened for visitors in 1999. The house's kitchen is where Misty stayed during the nor'easter described in Stormy, Misty's Foal. The barn with Misty and Stormy's stalls was on the premises but the barn burned down June 25, 2019. The family's Misty descendant pony Nightmist's Little Angel lives on the property. In 2016 she foaled Angel's Stormy Drizzle who was the first Misty descendant born on Beebe Ranch since 1972. The Beebe family was approached by a developer in 2023 to buy the property. Instead the Museum of Chincoteague Island launched a successful campaign to buy the property. The museum took ownership in June 2023. Billy passed away May 2024, his family's legacy preserved. The house of Clarence and Ida Beebe, illustrated in the Misty books, burned down in April 1996. The property on Ridge Road where the house once stood has been re-developed.

Clarence and Ida Beebe House in 1995

Ralph and Jeanette Beebe House in 2023

The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation was formed by Marguerite Henry and Rebecca Guisti in 1990. The Foundation's mission was to promote reading and to preserve the Misty legend. Money was raised to purchase a small portion of the old Beebe Ranch and to erect a Misty statue. The statue on Chincoteague was formally unveiled on July 29, 1997 and was sculpted by Brian Maughan. It was originally placed at "The Thicket" on Ridge Road which is a portion of land that once had been part of Beebe Ranch. The property was donated to the MCF by Richard and Carolyn Conklin. An identical statue was placed at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. A Misty time capsule, to be opened in 2046, was buried next to the statue in Kentucky. The Misty statue on Chincoteague was moved from "The Thicket" to a park on Main Street and rededicated on June 14, 2006. A sign stands where the statue used to be. Misty's Meadow or Misty's Pasture is near the original statue location was purchased by the Foundation with the intention to leave it as open space. The dedication plaque was later removed, however a sign has been placed at the site. After Marguerite Henry's death the Foundation was mismanaged and fell apart. While the Misty of Chincoteague Foundation is still in existence, mainly through its website and periodic fundraising, it is now a shell of what it used to be.

1997 Chincoteague Statue Dedication, The Baltimore Sun

Misty II at Misty's 50th Birthday fundraiser for the Misty of Chincoteague Foundation. Photo courtesy of Kendy Allen

Misty herself only had three foals, but her descendants are much more numerous. Phantom Wings had only one known foal, a colt named Sandpiper. Wisp O' Mist also only had one foal Cloudy, a 1964 palomino gelding. All of the known Misty descendants alive today are descended from Stormy. Stormy had six foals; 1967 palomino pinto stallion Thunder, 1969 chestnut pinto mare Windy, 1972 bay mare Breezy, 1973 chestnut Rainy, 1974 chestnut pinto mare Misty II, and 1978 chestnut pinto mare Foggy Mist. Misty II was the last living grandfoal of Misty when she died of cancer in 2000. Misty II's grandfoal Misty III carries on the Misty name and traditions. Many of Misty's descendants have become successful show horses. Up until 2015 there had never been any descendants of Misty in the feral herds on Assateague Island. Great great great grandfoal WH Windy's Beach Boy was sold to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company is April 2015. In March 2018 several ponies were sold to the fire company: Great great great grandfoals WH Night Rain, WH Summer Breeze, WH Sundance, WH Wildfire, Winter Moon, and great great great great grandfoal WH Surf and Sun.

Cloudy and Rainy, Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm Postcard

Misty III at Misty's Birthday Party

WH Summer Breeze, WH Wildfire, and Winter Moon on Assateague

Breyer Animal Creations has immortalized Misty and several of her descendants into models. Misty (#20, 1972-current) and Stormy (#19, 1977-current) are two of Breyer's longest running models. Misty's son Phantom Wings (#29, 1982-1987) and her great great granddaughter Misty's Twilight (#470, 1991-1996) were made into models. The character Sea Star (#16, 1980-1987) was also made into a Breyer. To honor Misty's 50th birthday, Breyer made Misty's last living grandfoal Misty II and two of Misty II's daughters, Misty's Black Mist and Misty's May Day Twister (#3350, 1996-1999), into models that were sold as a set.

Misty may have left us, but she lives on through her books, her many descendants, and the millions of people around the world who have read, and will read her story. As Ida Beebe was famously quoted in A Pictorial Life Story of Misty, "Nothing dies as long as there is the memory to enfold it and a heart to love it".

Click on the photo for pictures of Misty. Pictorial Life Story of Misty

Click on the photo for pictures related to Misty's history. Beebe Ranch Postcard.

History of Misty of Chincoteague