{{Infobox islands | name = Protestant{{nbsp}}Cay<!-- mandatory --> | native_name = <!-- or |local_name= --> | native_name_link = | native_name_lang = | sobriquet = <!-- or |nickname= --> | image_name = Protestantcaystcroix.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = | image_alt = | map = USA VI Saint Croix#US Virgin Islands | map_alt = | map_width = | map_caption = | map_relief = | label = | label_position = | coordinates = {{Coord|17|44|59|N|64|42|10|W|type:isle_region:US-VI_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}} | etymology = | location = Christiansted Harbor<!-- mandatory, body of water where located --> | pop = | archipelago = Virgin Islands | waterbody = | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_acre = 4<!-- or |area_m2= or |area_ha= --> | area_footnotes = | rank = | length_km = <!-- or |length_m= --> | length_footnotes = | width_km = <!-- or |width_m= --> | width_footnotes = | coastline_km = <!-- or |coastline_m= --> | coastline_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_footnotes = | highest_mount = | country = {{USA}}<br />{{VIR}} | country_admin_divisions_title = Territory | country_admin_divisions = Virgin Islands | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = District | country_admin_divisions_1 = District of Saint Croix | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Sub-district | country_admin_divisions_2 = Christiansted | country_capital_type = | country_capital = | country_largest_city_type = | country_largest_city = | country_capital_and_largest_city = | country_largest_city_population = | country_leader_title = | country_leader_name = | country_area_km2 = <!-- or |country_area_m2= or |country_area_ha= --> | demonym = | population = | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_rank = | population_rank_max = | density_km2 = | density_rank = | density_footnotes = | ethnic_groups = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | website = | additional_info = }}
'''Protestant Cay''' is a four-acre triangular islet in the Christiansted Harbor, 200 yards north of Christiansted.<ref>Gorry, Conner and Debra Miller (2005). ''Caribbean Islands''. Lonely Planet. Page 364. {{ISBN|9781741040555}}.</ref><ref>Sullivan, Lynne (2001). ''Adventure Guide to the Virgin Islands''. Hunter Publishing, Inc. Page 188. {{ISBN|9781556509070}}.</ref> The island is home to a resort,<ref>Greenberg, Harriet and Douglas. ''The US Virgin Islands Alive!''. Hunter Publishing, Inc. Page 240. {{ISBN|9781588435842}}.</ref> the Hotel on the Cay, which is home to a protected sand beach, small shop and beach bar.<ref>Ghose, Aruna (2014). ''DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Caribbean''. Penguin. Page 248. {{ISBN|9781465432674}}.</ref><ref> Prince, Danforth and Darwin Porter (2006). ''Caribbean For Dummies''. John Wiley & Sons. Page 505. {{ISBN|9780471962519}}.</ref> It also has the closest beach to Downtown Christiansted.<ref>Henderson, James (2005). ''Caribbean & the Bahamas''. New Holland Publishers. Page 533. {{ISBN|9781860112126}}.</ref> With one of the ferries, which run from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., every ten minutes, it will only take about two minutes to get there. The ride is free of charge after 4 p.m., and for guests of the Hotel on the Cay. To get on the ferry, passengers have to stand near the boardwalk in front of the King Christian Hotel and wave to the boat captain on duty. thumb|Ferry to Protestant Cay
== History == Local legend says the island is named because the Catholic French rulers of the late 1600s wanted all of non-Catholic faith to be segregated and interred on the offshore islet.<ref>Glanville, Gail (1983). ''Beaches: U.S. Virgin Islands : Everyone's Guide (and More) to the Best of the Beaches in America's Paradise, the U.S. Virgin Islands''. Macmillan Caribbean. Page 21. {{ISBN|9780333335758}}.</ref> As only Catholics were allowed burials on Saint Croix, people of other faiths were buried on Protestant Cay.<ref>Government Printing Office (2001). ''U.S. Virgin Islands: A Guide to National Parklands in the United States Virgin Islands''. National Park of the Virgin Islands. Page 93. {{ISBN|9780912627687}}.</ref>
During the years as a Danish colony, Protestantism became the principal faith of the islands. In the 19th century. Protestant Cay was the residence of the local chief pilot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marinehist.dk/MHS-udgivelser/MHS25.pdf|title=Flåden og Dansk Vestindien - Den danske flådes togter til Caribien 1671-1917|language=Danish|author=Nielsen, Per|publisher=Forlaget Marinehistoriske Skrifter / Dansk Vestindisk Selskab|accessdate=29 November 2025}}</ref>
== Threatened species == The endemic Saint Croix ground lizard once roamed Saint Croix and all nearby islands and islets, but is now only found on Protestant and Green Cays off Saint Croix’s northern coast.<ref>Stallings, Douglas (2009). ''Fodor’s Caribbean''. Fodor's Travel Publications. Page 26. {{ISBN|9781400019427}}.</ref><ref>Sheviak, Charles J. (1990). ''Ecosystem Management: Rare Species and Significant Habitats : Proceedings of the 15th Annual Natural Areas Conference''. University of the State of New York. Page 154.</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} Category:Islands of the United States Virgin Islands