Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim

The Chincoteague Pony Swim also known as Pony Penning, or Pony Penning Days, is an annual event held in Chincoteague, Virginia on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The event dates back to the 1800s and features the wild horses swimming 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. The pony swim event is hosted by the Chincoteague Fire Department and consists of a pony swim on Wednesday and a pony auction on Thursday. For the pony swim, the Saltwater Cowboys round up feral Chincoteague ponies from Assateague Island and drive them across the Assateague Channel to Veteran’s Memorial Park on Chincoteague Island. Once on Chincoteague Island, the Saltwater Cowboys herd the ponies to pens on the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds where some of the foals are auctioned off on Thursday. The exact swim time depends on slack tide and is announced by the fire company the week of the event — expected between 9:30 and 10:30 AM. Spectators should arrive early; the viewing window at Veterans Memorial Park opens at 7 AM.