A 7 year old Assateague pony has died after eating a large amount of dog food earlier this month.
A post-mortem investigation found the food had caused an internal blockage which created a rupture within the horse.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that dog food generally contains a recipe that is too rich for the animal and in large amounts can cause death.
Generally, the ponies consume large amounts of beach grasses and other vegetation with high fiber.
Tourists have already been warned not to leave facets on in the park because the animals can become territorial as they begin to view the spigots as a main source of water.
