Crowd Cheers as Ponies Swim for Century Anniversary
The wild Chincoteague ponies inaugurated their 100th annual swim across the Assateague Channel in Virginia, marking a century of this beloved tradition.
The Saltwater Cowboys Roundup
Beginning in 1925, the "Saltwater Cowboys" atop their horses orchestrate the roundup of these wild ponies. The ponies daringly swim the channel and arrive on the eastern shores of Chincoteague Island.
Generates Fundraising for Healthy Herds
As the ponies make their landfall, the Chincoteague Fire Department leads an auction of some of the foals. The proceeds from this event help control the size of the herd, ensuring a sustainable and healthy pony population on Assateague, where they predominantly reside.
