The Hidden Galleon by John Amrhein, Jr.

First there was a shipwreck, then a legend, a movie and now a book that finally tells the rest of the story. The Hidden Galleon by John Amrhein provides a possible answer to the question of how the world famous Chincoteague ponies arrived on Assateague Island. Many theories about the origin of the ponies have been part of the local lore. Some say the ponies were pastured on Assateague so that their owners could avoid taxes. In Misty of Chincoteague, Grandpa Beebe tells Maureen and Paul that legend has it that the ponies came from a shipwrecked Spanish ship. No one seemed to know for sure. Until now . . .

For thirty years, John Amrhein has been on a quest to uncover the truth. An interest in diving that started in high school led him down a path he could never have predicted. His research has taken him to the depths of the ocean as well as to historical archives in both Spain and in the U.S. This is a true story that reads more like a historical novel – full of scams, scoundrels and suspense.

The Hidden Galleon provides compelling evidence that ‘La Galga’ is indeed the shipwreck of local Chincoteague legends and lore. Definitely one to add to your Chincoteague collection. For more information, click here.