4-H’er inspires bill to officially recognize the Chincoteague pony

A pair of bills that will commemorate one of the commonwealth’s most cherished four-legged icons is trotting toward the finish line thanks, in part, to the efforts of a Virginia 4-H’er.

Sophia Gallivan, a 17-year-old student at Broadwater Academy on the Eastern Shore, has been working with her local representatives to pass two bills in the Virginia Legislature that will make the Chincoteague pony the official pony of the commonwealth.

The bills, SB 1478 and HB 1951, were introduced in the legislature by Eastern Shore delegation, Del. Robert Bloxom and Sen. Lynwood Lewis. Both bills passed and have been forwarded to the desk of Gov. Glenn Youngkin for final approval.

Gallivan is an equine enthusiast. She’s been riding and training horses since she was a child. As a member of the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team and as a 4-H Virginia Horse Ambassador, she participated in numerous events during the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim Week, an event that draws thousands of visitors from across the world.

As an ambassador, Gallivan has worked closely with Sandy Arnold, a youth animal science associate with Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Arnold said horse ambassadors help promote equine programs and involvement throughout the state.

For the past four years, she’s been active in the 4-H club, “Hoof Beats by the Beach.” Each club member, including Gallivan, owns a horse, and they travel across the state for competitions. It was after one of these horse shows when Gallivan, along with her father, Tom, started brainstorming the pony bill.

“We were talking about state emblems and state horses, and we wondered if the Chincoteague pony was the Virginia state pony,” Gallivan said. “Of course, we learned it wasn’t recognized at all, and that planted the seed for us.”

Gallivan started researching the legislative process, and with the support from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, presented the bill to Del. Bloxom and Sen. Lewis.

The bill passed unanimously. Once signed by Gov. Youngkin, the Chincoteague pony will join a diverse list of state emblems and designations, like the Virginia Big-eared bat and the American dogwood, the state tree.

Gallivan was recognized for her efforts at the Virginia 4-H Day at the Capitol in January by First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, who is also a horse enthusiast.

“This experience has been unbelievable,” Gallivan said. “4-H helped me make a smart goal and achieve it. I am appreciative of all the support and how open and welcoming people were of my idea. Now, I’m crossing my fingers that Gov. Youngkin will sign the bill into action. Either way, I have learned so much about the legislative process here in Virginia, and I am grateful for this experience.”

About Sophie Gallivan

Gallivan is a junior at Broadwater Academy in Exmore, Virginia.

Schedule an interview

To schedule an interview, contact Max Esterhuizen, interim director of Communications and Marketing in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, at max.esterhuizen@vt.edu or (540) 231-6630 or Margaret Ashburn in the Media Relations office at mkashburn@vt.edu or (540) 529-0814.