The Pony SwimThere are two herds of ponies living on the beautiful Island of Assateague. Seperated by a fence at the state line between Virginia and Maryland, the ponies are found in each state wandering the beaches and sometimes roads. Each herd is managed differently, the Maryland herd by the National Park Service and the Virginia herd by the Chincoteague Fire Company. Each year, the Virginia herd is rounded up by the Fire Company for the much heard about 'Pony Swim.' Pony Penning began as a way for farmers to claim their propety and break the ponies in, during the late 1600's. Around the 1700's Penning turned into a yearly event known around the world, there were good times, alcohol and carnivals.By 1885, word had spread and hotels were booked far in advance and the island was crazy. In 1909, the dates were finally set to the last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in July each year. (Assateague also had a sheep penning, that finally was discontinued in 1914).
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The most known part of Pony Penning, is the Pony Swim itself. Which dates back to 1925, with the ponies swimming from the closest two points from Assateague to Chincoteague Islands. After a string of fires on the little Island of Chincoteague, the fire company realized how inadaquite their equipment was. In 1925, they were authorized by the town to hold a carnival, and sell off some colts that made the swim. The first year there was 15 colts sold, and it was a huge success. By 1947 there was approximatley 25,000 people coming to the Island. |
That same year, in 1947 Marguriete Henry wrote the book "Misty of Chincoteague," the book that made Chincoteague and Pony Penning Internationally famous. Soon after a movie followed it, along with several other follow up books, as seen below. Misty of Chincoteague was soon hailed as a children's classic. Children everywhere wanted their own Misty. "So well known had the ponies become, that when a crushing storm ruined almost all the island forage in 1962, children from virtually every state in the nation sent money from their piggy banks to aid in the pony relief effort." |
Pony Penning is still held as a three day event today. The last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in July during the Chincoteague Firemans carnival. 'Saltwater Cowboys' come from all over the world, helped by members of the Fire Company. Wednesday morning, at slack tide the ponies make the swim from Assateague to Chincoteague assisted by the cowboys on a flat barge incase the ponies would be in danger. The ponies are rounded up the week of the swim and kept in a crate behind the woods on Assateague. On the last Wednesday in July the morning of, over about 25,000 people line up in Memorial Park, in the trees, the water, the nearby campgrounds and everything to get a good view. Not until slack tide (in between tides so there is no current in the water) then a flare gun goes off, and the Salt Water cowboys scare the ponies into the water and they make the swim. In the middle it gets about 25 feet deep. Once they cross to Chincoteague, they rest for about an hour, and then are herded through town to the carnival grounds for Thursday, the auction. |
