Every year, more than a hundred wild ponies swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island (and back!). We found the most awe-inspiring Insta shots from this year’s 92nd Chincoteague Island Pony Swim.
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Wild ponies have lived on Assateague Island for hundreds of years. It’s likely that they landed on there due to a shipwreck.
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As a fundraiser that started in 1925,”saltwater cowboys and cowgirls” guide these swimming ponies to Chincoteague for a parade and an auction held when they arrive.
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They swim across the Assateague Channel and come ashore on Chincoteague’s east side.
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Ponies of all ages make the swim in less than 20 minutes.
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Thousands of spectators gather to witness the annual swim.
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The Virginia Marine Police help out along the way.
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You can watch from the shore of Chincoteague Island.
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Once the ponies make it to land, they get about 45 minutes to rest.
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Event-goers can get up close.
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It’s a pony-enthusiast’s dream.
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And they do a little grazing.
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Then they get paraded down Main Street before the auction.
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The auction helps keep the herd to a manageable number of ponies.
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Afterwards, the ponies swim back to their homeland with help from their saltwater wranglers.
Former editorial fellow Kayla Randall is City Lights editor at Washington City Paper.
