What is special about Chincoteague Island?

This Island and its famous pony swim, that occurs yearly, is facing extinction due to sea-level rise and climate change.  As it stands it is the last and only inhabited island among Virginia's Easter Shore Barrier Islands. I discovered that my community in Southwest Virginia largely did not know about this island nor the string of barrier islands in Virginia.  They also were unaware of the threat they and other Virginia islands are facing at the hands of sea-level rise and climate change.  Thus, I am interested in creating an immersive lesson for Virginia Studies and Ecology students to better help them understand the coastal areas of Virginia and the complexity of its biodiversity that exists within such changing habitats.  

Many would like to deny the fact that Global warming is real and taking place.  Barrier Islands like those off the coast of Virginia are key indicators of a combination of climate change indications.  Sea level rise and island migration are clear indicators as are temperature increases and the increasing frequency of severe storms which pummel the islands' coastline.  This community has a delicate system and the very nearby Assateague Island which supports a few endangered species and where the balance of fresh and saltwater habitats have to be maintained on the island migrating and existing wildlife. 
There is also much to understand about the human population on Chincoteague Island and how their traditions dictate the way of life on the island as a fishing community and how the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island is helping those efforts.