Large Gathering Observes One Hundredth Yearly Swim of Chincoteague Wild Ponies in Virginia
The picturesque town of Chincoteague, Virginia, played host to its centennial Pony Swim this year, marking a century of this unique tradition. On the day of the event, more than 100 wild ponies were expertly guided by the Saltwater Cowboys to swim across the Assateague Channel to Chincoteague Island, attracting thousands of spectators and media coverage. Governor Glenn Youngkin attended to honour the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company’s century of organising the swim, underscoring its regional importance[1].
Steeped in history, the Pony Swim was famously popularised by Marguerite Henry’s 1947 Newbery-award-winning book, Misty of Chincoteague, which brought widespread attention to the event and the island’s ponies[2]. This annual event involves rounding up the wild ponies of Assateague Island, swimming them across the channel, and then holding an auction on Chincoteague Island.
At the 2025 auction, records were broken with an average pony price of $10,724 and the highest bid reaching $50,000. These figures significantly surpassed previous records, highlighting the strong demand and cultural value of the ponies[4]. The auction proceeds support the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which organises and funds local community services, making the Pony Swim both a cultural and economic cornerstone for the area[1][4].
The auction also serves a practical purpose, as it helps control the size of the herd and maintain a healthy pony population on Assateague Island. The Chincoteague wild ponies, who live most of the year on Assateague Island, made their annual swim across the Assateague Channel this year, as they have done for a century[3]. The auction is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Chincoteague Fire Department, which manages the wild pony herd.
The Chincoteague wild ponies were made famous in the 1947 classic children's novel "Misty of Chincoteague" by author Marguerite Henry. The "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback round up the Chincoteague wild ponies for the swim each year, adding an air of tradition and excitement to the event. As the ponies splashed their way across the channel, it was clear that this tradition, now a century old, continues to captivate and enthral those who witness it.
[1] Associated Press. (2025, July 30). Chincoteague's Centennial Pony Swim Attracts Thousands, Breaks Records. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/chincoteagues-centennial-pony-swim-attracts-thousands-breaks-records/2025/07/30/e0648d3c-b88d-11ed-9e66-57a09321d23a_story.html
[2] Henry, Marguerite. (1947). Misty of Chincoteague. Grosset & Dunlap.
[3] National Park Service. (n.d.). Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved from https://www.fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague/wildlife_and_habitat/wild_ponies.html
[4] Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. (2025, August 1). 2025 Pony Swim and Auction Results. Retrieved from https://www.cvfc.com/pony-swim-auction/2025-pony-swim-auction-results/
In Seattle, a new business venture has emerged, inspired by the age-old tradition of the Chincoteague Pony Swim. This startup aims to replicate the charm and allure of the event by hosting an annual Seattle Pony Swim, gathering local athletes to symbolically "swim" through city streets instead of channels, attracting spectators from the political sphere as well as sports enthusiasts.
The success of the Seattle Pony Swim could potentially surpass expectations, much like the record-breaking auction at the 2025 Chincoteague event, with auctioned ponies fetching significant prices and the event serving as a substantial fundraiser for the local community, much like its Eastern counterpart.
