May 25, 2026
The Chincoteague Wild Pony Swim was officially established in 1925 by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Following a series of devastating fires on the isolated island, the newly formed fire department needed to raise funds for fire equipment, leading them to organize an annual summer carnival and auction off wild foals from the herd on neighboring Assateague Island. To get the horses to the auction, local “Saltwater Cowboys” began herding them across the Assateague Channel at “slack” tide, a brief window when the water is safest for the ponies. This is the biggest event on the east coast and if you plan to visit book your vacation a year in advance and be ready for a very large crowd.
The event exploded into a world-famous phenomenon after author Marguerite Henry popularized the tradition in her beloved 1947 children’s novel, Misty of Chincoteague, and today, the swim continues to serve both as the fire department’s primary fundraiser and a vital tool for managing the wild pony population to protect the island’s sensitive ecosystem. People come from all around the world to buy these one of a kind ponies. It has been said, you are not a true horse person if you don’t have a Chincoteague pony.
This footage is from the 2017 Chincoteague’s annual Pony Swim. The Chincoteague Pony Swim was made famous by Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague”. Tens of thousands of spectators from around the world gather on Chincoteague Island each year to watch this annual tradition. Scroll down for pictures and video of this year’s event. For more information about the Chincoteague Ponies, including their history and origins of the modern day Pony Swim, check out our Chincoteague Pony web page.
The Roundup
In The Corral
