Paul and Maureen befriend an elusive mare on Assateague named the Phantom, and later come to own her foal, Misty. The story features two real life characters of Chincoteague, Paul and Maureen Beebe, a young brother and sister who move from Philadelphia to Chincoteague, Virginia to live with Grandpa Beebe and Grandma Beebe after their parents die. Some of the colts and yearlings are then sold at auction as a means of thinning out the herd, and as a benefit for the local Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. The story is based on the annual ' Pony Swim', an event held in the Chincoteague area each year, that involves rounding up some of the wild ponies who live on Assateague Island to swim across the channel. Set on the island of Chincoteague on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Misty was filmed in Chincoteague, at a home on Folly Creek near the town of Accomac, and on the nearby barrier island known as Assateague. 'Children want a good story, preferably dealing with a good locale,' said producer Radnitz. The film followed the success of A Dog of Flanders and was made with the same star, producer and director. They soon realize they will get more than they bargained for when the Phantom has a surprise for everyone: a foal named Misty.

The young children set out to raise enough money in hopes that the Phantom will be caught in this years round up. Plot Įvery year the Chincoteague fire department rounds up the wild ponies of Assateague Island and holds an auction to thin out the herd.

The book tells a story of the special bond that develops between two young orphan children and a centuries-old herd of wild ponies living on an island off the coast of Virginia and a real-life Chincoteague Pony named Misty. Misty is a 1961 American CinemaScope children's film based on Marguerite Henry's 1947 award-winning children's book Misty of Chincoteague.

Phantom misty of chincoteague