The annual pony swim
The Chincoteague pony penning tradition goes back almost a hundred years. Today, the event includes a dramatic swim as the ponies, who live wild on the marshy barrier island called Assateague, swim a narrow channel to the neighboring island of Chincoteague.
After the swim, 150 or so ponies climb up the muddy bank, shake off the water, and parade down Main Street to the carnival grounds to rest. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department cares for the wild herd. Every year after the swim, they auction off a group of foals to manage the herd’s numbers and raise money for pony care. This July’s event will mark the 94th year of Chincoteague’s annual Pony Swim.