Spring and Fall Pony Round-ups

Chincoteague's annual Pony Swim attracts nationwide attention. The swim and auction take place on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July each year. 2015 will mark the 90th anniversary of the famous event.

Did you know that the Saltwater Cowboys round up the Ponies on Assateague two other times during the year? In April, then again in October, the Ponies are rounded up into corrals on Assateague Island so that they can be seen by a vet. The vet gives the Ponies inoculations against west Nile and equine encephalitis, and checks their hooves and teeth.

About 50 adult ponies live on the southern end of Assateague Island, in an area visible from the road that leads to the beach. On a Friday afternoon, starting at around 4 pm, the Saltwater Cowboys will begin rounding up the "southern herd" into a corral just off the road to the beach. This round up usually takes a couple of hours. Spectators are able to view the Ponies in the corral after the round up.

Saturday morning the Saltwater Cowboys begin rounding up the 100 or so additional adult Ponies that live in a much larger area further north on Assateague Island. The "northern herd" is rounded up into a corral which is about 3 miles up the Service Road. The northern end round up takes about 5 - 6 hours to complete because there are more ponies and more land to cover. This area is not as easily accessible to the public because it requires a three mile walk up the service road.

There is a chance that an early born foal or two may be included in the herd during the Spring round-up.

The Spring and Fall round-ups provide an opportunity for the public to view Ponies up close, in the southern corral, without the enormous crowds that are present in July.

This article was published by Chincoteague.com on 3/17/2015.
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