Are Chincoteague Ponies branded?

When did penning start on Chincoteague Island?

Penning on Chincoteague Island is not mentioned until the mid-1800’s, and it believed to have been begun by two islanders who owned large herds that grazed on Chincoteague. The penning continued on both islands for years. By 1885 they were held on Assateague one day and Chincoteague the next.

When is Pony Penning on Assateague Island?

In 1909, the last Wednesday and Thursday of July were designated as the annual days for pony penning, still taking place on both Assateague and Chincoteague Islands.

What is the history of pony penning?

In 1925 the town authorized the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company to hold a carnival during Pony Penning to raise funds. That year over 15 colts were sold to benefit the fire company, and the carnival was a huge success. Bolstered by the interest in the pony swim, visitors began arriving from across the country for the annual penning.

How do the ponies get to Chincoteague?

A: The Ponies swim across the Assateague Channel, from Assateague Island (where they live all year) to Chincoteague Island. They come out of the water at “Pony Swim Lane”, near Memorial Park, on the east side of Chincoteague Island (see map below). Q: When do the ponies swim? The swim takes place at “slack tide”.

What is Assateague Island pony penning?

The annual event, called “Pony Penning,” is a way to control the population of horses who live on Assateague Island, a 37-mile long barrier island located off the Delmarva Peninsula. The northern two-thirds of the island is in Maryland while the southern third is in Virginia.

How did the ponies get to Assateague Island?

The large number of shipwrecks, together with the fact that it was very common for ships to be transporting ponies to the Colonies or South America, makes it very likely that ponies originally got to Assateague from a shipwreck. Penning began as a way for livestock owners to claim, brand, break and harness their loose herds.

How many people go to Pony Penning Day?

It now usually draws from 40,000 to 50,000 spectators. Since 1924, Pony Penning Day has been an annual event, with the exception of 1942, 1943, and 2020. The event was cancelled during 1942 and 1943 due to World War II, and in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pony Swim was cancelled for the first time since World War II.

When did Pony Penning start?

The first written description of the pony penning appeared in 1835, and by 1885, the event had become a festival day. The event consisted of two days of horse and sheep roundups on Assateague and Chincoteague Islands.

Where do the ponies swim on Assateague Island?

A: The Ponies swim across the Assateague Channel, from Assateague Island (where they live all year) to Chincoteague Island. They come out of the water at “Pony Swim Lane”, near Memorial Park, on the east side of Chincoteague Island (see map below).

When is the Chincoteague pony swim this summer?

The Chincoteague Pony Swim is set to return this summer after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement on Wednesday, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which organizes the annual festival, said the popular wild horse crossing will take place during the morning of July 27.

How many people come to watch the Pony Swim?

Each year tens of thousands of spectators come to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim the pony herd from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. For more information about the annual Pony Swim please visit our Pony Swim Guide.

Is pony penning still held in July?

The tale of the wild pony Phantom, her foal Misty and the children who buy and raise her has become a classic, still loved and enjoyed by each new generation. Pony Penning is still held in July during the Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival.

How did the ponies get on the island?

Local lore experts theorized the ponies arrived on the island via a shipwrecked vessel in the late 18th or early 19th century. Others attribute their arrival by pirates drawn to the island who ultimately abandoned the animals. A more likely theory is that farmers in colonial times used the island for grazing areas to avoid paying taxes on the land.

When is the best time to see wild ponies on Assateague?

Many people say that the best way for you to experience the wild ponies of Assateague Island is to “Go any other time during the summer, that’s when you can see them best on the nature tour”. You can see the herds of wild ponies where they live along the island each day, on the nature tour that runs from April thru October.

Can you swim with horses on Assateague Island?

During the brief 3 minute pony swim event, the wild horses swim across the Assateague Channel when the tide is “slack calm” so the young ponies, which are born during spring or early summer, are safe from any strong currents. After watching the pony swim, visitors can attend the Chincoteague Carnival.

Is the Chincoteague pony swim coming back in 2022?

The Chincoteague Pony Swim will return this summer. After two years of being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic event will take place on the morning of July 27, 2022.

How long does the Pony Swim last?

The Pony Swim occurs on Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., depending on slack tide. The exact time of the swim is announced the day before the swim. It lasts approximately five-ten minutes. Approximately 40,000 people gather on the shores to watch the swim from Veterans Memorial Park or Pony Swim Lane.

What is Pony Penning Day?

In 1924, the first official Pony Penning Day was held, where the foals were auctioned at $25–50 each to raise money for fire equipment. The fire department owns the herd, and holds a grazing permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which allows the fire department to let the horses graze on the Virginia side of Assateague Island.

What happens to the ponies after the swim?

After the swim, the ponies rest for about 45 minutes. Then the Saltwater Cowboys will “parade” the ponies down Main Street, to the carnival grounds where the auction will be held Thursday morning. The parade route is shown on the Shuttle Bus Map .

What is the Wild Pony Swim?

The Pony Swim is usually broadcast live by the “Good Morning America” show. The Wild Pony Swim is visited by over 40,000 excited spectators. They watch approximately 150 Assateague Ponies make the historic swim.

What’s the deal with the horses on the island?

“They were introduced to the island and the idea was that the horses would take care of themselves, they would reproduce, their numbers would build up and periodically they could be harvested and sold at a profit,” said Freedman.

How did the horses get on Sable Island?

Although popular legends claim that Sable Island horses swam ashore from the island’s many shipwrecks, or were introduced by 16th-century Portuguese explorers, this is not supported by historical or genetic evidence. In reality, the horses were deliberately introduced to the island during the 18th century.

What happened to the Assateague horses?

Local folklore describes the Assateague horses as survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast. While this dramatic tale of struggle and survival is popular, there are no records yet that confirm it.

What is the Wild Pony Swim on Assateague?

An auction takes place before the ponies swim back to Assateague Island. The Pony Swim is usually broadcast live by the “Good Morning America” show. The Wild Pony Swim is visited by over 40,000 excited spectators.

Are there restrooms close to the swim in Assateague?

There are no restrooms close to the swim since it is a tidal marsh. Many people say that the best way for you to experience the wild ponies of Assateague Island is to “Go any other time during the summer, that’s when you can see them best on the nature tour”.