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A Herd of Wild Ponies Swim a Virginia Channel Every Year, and the Photos Are Pure Magic

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Photo by @benschillphotography via Instagram.

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXVxMi5gqRW/?taken-at=224375055

Wild ponies have lived on Assateague Island for hundreds of years. It’s likely that they landed on there due to a shipwreck.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXF-qrChiZm/?tagged=ponyswim

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXGJ7V-lQ5F/?tagged=ponyswim

They swim across the Assateague Channel and come ashore on Chincoteague’s east side.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXNmtsnFCjB/?taken-at=224375055

Ponies of all ages make the swim in less than 20 minutes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXA-h41A7uo/?tagged=ponyswim

Thousands of spectators gather to witness the annual swim.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXGEfJVljjW/?taken-at=224375055

The Virginia Marine Police help out along the way.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXAylXOFmN-/?tagged=ponyswim

You can watch from the shore of Chincoteague Island.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXF8RHRlyUX/?taken-at=224375055

Once the ponies make it to land, they get about 45 minutes to rest.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXMDm3SgK2Z/?tagged=ponyswim

Event-goers can get up close.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXP9X5sgP2i/?taken-at=224375055

It’s a pony-enthusiast’s dream.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXFxGvXjgqP/?taken-at=224375055

And they do a little grazing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXERDwXAe7T/?tagged=ponyswim

Then they get paraded down Main Street before the auction.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXI5tWKjN8q/?taken-at=224375055

The auction helps keep the herd to a manageable number of ponies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXJJ1cMj2G6/?taken-at=224375055

Afterwards, the ponies swim back to their homeland with help from their saltwater wranglers.

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Kayla Randall

Former editorial fellow Kayla Randall is City Lights editor at Washington City Paper.