The story of these wild island ponies attracts people from all over the world!
During the month of July, the Saltwater Cowboys gear up for the annual Pony Swim celebration in Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Those that enjoyed Marguerite Henry’s popular book, Misty of Chincoteague, may already be familiar with this spectacular event. The main attraction is a bunch of Chincoteague Ponies. They are a shaggy, sturdy herd of wild horses. Their incredible story has been passed down for generations!
These hardy ponies have resided on the Assateague Island for hundreds of years. It is suspected that they made an appearance on the island as early as the first settlers. Furthermore, it is very plausible that they were survivors of a shipwreck.
History of the Chincoteague Ponies
The history of Pony Penning is equally long! And while it may have occurred as early as the 1700s, published records officially describe penning on the Chincoteague Island in the mid-1800s. These events were a way for livestock owners to claim, brand, and break their loose herds. Eventually, they grew in size and visitors came to watch!
In 1925, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company held a carnival during Pony Penning to raise funds for better fire fighting equipment. In conclusion, the fair was a huge success because 15 colts were sold to benefit the fire company. It was suspected that over 25,000 people gathered to watch the 1937 event. One of the most influential years, 1947 is when the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge was created on Assateague. This protected and allowed the publicly-owned herds to graze on government land. Additionally, Misty of Chincoteague was published that year!
Every July, the Pony Penning event is at the Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival. The herd swims across the narrowest part of the Assateague Channel. Upon arrival, veterinarians examine the ponies to check on their health status. After they rest, the group is herded through the town of Chincoteague and into a corral. An auction is held the next day to raise funds and control population sizes.
After all of the festivities, adult ponies and a few foals make their swim back to the island.
The Chincoteague ponies became an official registered breed in 1994. They average between 12 and 13 hands with thick manes, short legs, and round bellies. On the island, their main diet consists of saltwater cordgrass that grows in the marshes. They must drink lots of fresh water to compensate for all of the saltwater consumed. The herd maintains 150 ponies with 70 foals born annually.
Pony Penning Celebration
Nowadays, visitors swarm to see the Chincoteague ponies in their natural habitat. You can see a small portion of the herd on the Woodland and Pony trails. However, to see the vast majority, you will need to go on a scenic boat tour or wildlife bus. In April and October, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company gathers the herds for vet checks. This gives folks the chance to see them in their corrals, as well. Lastly, the Chincoteague Pony Centre allows guests to ride, pet, and observe their herd. They even have descendants of the real-life Misty!
The Pony Swim was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID restrictions. However, foals were being auctioned off online. Let’s hope to see the amazing Pony Penning celebration in 2021!
Love this blog post? We think you will like: Horses of the Wild West
