April 24, 2025—The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire company and related groups are reminding prospective visitors to the Virginia barrier island that 2025 is the 100th year of the annual pony swim and auction, aka “Pony Penning Day.”

“The spectator turnout is expected to be huge,” the fire company noted on its social media pages, adding, “We suggest you book your trip to Chincoteague early if you’d like to witness this spectacular event.”

The festive tradition—immortalized by Marguerite Henry’s classic 1947 children’s novel, “Misty of Chincoteague,” and its 1961 film adaptation—will take place July 26-28 and July 30-31 this year.

Thousands of spectators will gather to watch the feral ponies as they are rounded up from their grazing grounds on Assateague Island, Virginia, and swum at slack tide to neighboring Chincoteague Island. There, select foals will be auctioned off. At the end of the event, the remainder of the herd is swum back. 

Ponies with a history

According to local legend, the ponies (actually small horses) descend from the survivors of a Spanish galleon shipwrecked nearby long ago. However, the National Park Service for Assateague Island believes they are more likely descendants of horses brought to the barrier islands in the late 17th century to avoid mainland fencing laws and livestock taxes.

The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company’s annual Pony Roundup, Swim and Auction always takes place on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in the month of July. The first foal to come ashore after the swim over is named King or Queen Neptune and is given away in a raffle later that day at the Carnival Grounds. (The carnival opens immediately after the swim.) 

An enduring relationship

Proceeds from this event fund the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, another tradition in this small Virginia community.  The relationship between the firemen and the ponies began in 1925, after two devastating fires on the island prompted the organization of their company, which then needed to buy equipment to keep the island safe.

To raise funds for this equipment, the firemen held a carnival and a related “Pony Penning Day” where they swam the ponies grazing on nearby Assateague Island, Virginia, across the channel to Chincoteague Island for auction. To this day, auction proceeds are used for the maintenance and purchase of fire equipment, as well as care and maintenance of the herd on the Virginia side of Assateague Island. (Today, these ponies are actually owned by the fire company.)

A free shuttle runs the day of the swim to transport the 40,000 attendees to the swim site since parking is very limited to handicap-only at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Roundup and walk schedule

July 26 – South Herd Roundup is the first major event before the exciting Pony Swim. The “Saltwater Cowboys” will ride out to the southern end of Assateague Island at about 4:30 p.m. to herd the more than 50 ponies (adults and foals) inhabiting this part of the island into the Southern Corral. The public may come view the arrival of the ponies at the Southern Corral on Beach Road. The ponies will be here Saturday through Tuesday for photos and viewing.

July 27 – North Herd Roundup takes place on the northern end of Assateague Island, Virginia, which is home to the largest population of ponies and their foals, about 100 to 150 total. The “Saltwater Cowboys” herd this group into the Northern Corral. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a public event, as this part of the island is not accessible. 

July 28 – Beach Walk: North meets south when the “Saltwater Cowboys” release the North herd ponies and walk them along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean to join the ponies at the Southern Corral. Ponies leave the Northern Corral at daybreak. It is advised to be at Assateague Island National Seashore by 6 a.m. for parking purposes. Assateague Island opens at 5 a.m. Bring your beach gear and stay for the day or walk behind the ponies to the corral and visit awhile. Bikers and hikers may access the beach via Swan Cove Trail.

Swim and auction schedule

July 30 – Pony Swim is normally held at the earliest morning slack tide which is usually between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. An approximate window of time will be announced a few days prior. The Pony Swim can be viewed from Veteran’s Memorial Park (7427 Memorial Park Drive) located off East Side Road; Pony Swim Lane located off Ridge Road; or by kayak or charter boat cruise. 

July 31 – Auction of foals begins at 8 a.m. and usually ends by noon at the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds, located at 3648 Main Street. The number of foals sold each year is determined by the Fire Company, and the ponies are checked and cleared by veterinarians before being released to their new owners.  

August 1 – Return Swim to be held at the earliest morning slack tide as the South Herd adult ponies swim back to Assateague Island to live another year in the wild. An approximate time will be announced that week. 

To read about the Chincoteague Island ranch where Misty of Chincoteague once lived, click here.