June 15, 2022
I can’t believe it’s the 97th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The more I get to know Chincoteague, VA, the more I appreciate the rich history. That history makes it a special place to vacation and explore! It is right next door to Assateague Island. The island is home to beautiful beaches and Chincoteague wild ponies! Located in Accomack County, Virginia it spans just over 9 miles of land and 28 miles of water. Today we are going to dive into why the Annual Pony Swim that is in its 97th year is such a unique experience!
The 97th Annual Pony Swim – July 25-30
The 97th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim will be the biggest event of the year at the island! “Wild horses swim across the Assateague Channel when the tide is ‘slack calm’ so the young ponies, which are born during spring or early summer, are safe from any strong currents. An auction will take place before the ponies swim back to Assateague Island.” (Source) This popular event will be attended by a staggering 40,000 people every year. Furthermore, it is usually broadcast on the “Good Morning America” show! Many of the Chincoteague volunteer firefighters will help to round up the ponies. Many of the firefighters have been doing it most of their lives as an annual tradition. The native residents will return every year for the Pony Swim. It coincides with the Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival.
The 97th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim 2022 Schedule
Over 150 ponies make the historic swim from Assateague to Chincoteague. In preparation for the big event, the southern herd is rounded up on Saturday, July 23rd with the northern herd roundup on Sunday. The northern heard corral is not open to the public. But the southern herd corral is. That location is very accessible and will be a fun visit if you want to see the ponies up close!
On July 25th the Beach Walk commences. During this walk, the Saltwater Cowboys will move the Northern herd to join the Southern Herd. Attendees can see from the beach. It will be the best view of the whole week!
On July 26th all the ponies are seen by a vet prior to the swim to make sure they are healthy. This is also open to the public.
On July 27th the Ponies make their swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. After a brief rest, the Saltwater Cowboys “parade” the ponies down Main Street!
The reason for the Pony Swim is so they can auction off the foals so the herd doesn’t grow too large. It also helps to raise money for the Fire Department. The auction is on July 28th and is very crowded so keep that in mind if you want to take that event in as well.
On Friday, July 29th, the adult ponies swim back to Assateague Island. This whole week is a dream getaway for any lover of horses! There is so much you can see and take in. It is quite a sight to see so many wild horses being herded on the beautiful beaches of Virginia!
Misty of Chincoteague – The book that put the swim on the map!
The Pony Swim was made famous by the book “Misty of Chincoteague” written by Marguerite Henry. This children’s book captured the imagination of so many people over the years. Here is a quick summary of the book, “Paul, a boy who lived on Chincoteague Island with his sister and grandparents, captured Misty and her mother, the Phantom. He was on his first ride with the men who rounded up wild ponies once a year. Paul and his sister Maureen helped their grandfather raise these ponies. But they wanted a pony of their own. Would Paul and Maureen make the winning bid for a pony at the auction on their island?” (Source)
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