Can an adult ride a Chincoteague Pony?

Can you really see the ponies on Chincoteague Island?

Maybe you read the book “Misty of Chincoteague” as a child and you’ve decided to make the trip to Chincoteague Island to finally check seeing the ponies off your bucket list. The information in this blog post will help you best utilize your time here and maximize your chances of actually seeing the Ponies.

How do you Celebrate the Chincoteague Pony Parade?

This traditional celebration involves rounding up the Chincoteague ponies and then making them swim across the Assateague Channel to the Veteran’s Memorial Park on Chincoteague Island. The ponies are then penned there by the local cowboys, while many of them are sold off the next day (Thursday) in the auction.

What happens to the proceeds of the pony swim at Chincoteague?

Today, most of the proceeds go to the fire dept. for new equipment. The Annual Pony Swim at Chincoteague has now become a national treasure. Many visitors as well as native residents of Chincoteague return to the Pony Swim year after year to take part in this island tradition.

When is the best time to see the Chincoteague ponies?

Though the Pony Swim is a wonderful experience to see the ponies, it is often very crowded with limited space. To get the best chance to view the Chincoteague ponies, visitors are encouraged to visit between April to October. Can You Walk to See the Wild Chincoteague Ponies?

Is the Pony Centre the same as Chincoteague anymore?

Since the Allen Family no longer runs the Pony Centre it’s not the same. Good for a quick look and thats about it. Its no longer a destination. My family and I would go for 2 weeks at a time for 4 years! My son was in camp there and then volunteered. Now we don’t even visit Chincoteague.

What kind of horses live on Assateague Island?

A fence on the Maryland-Virginia line on Assateague separates the two herds of wild horses. Both herds feature horses of the same short and stocky breed, known as the Chincoteague Pony or the Assateague Horse–but again, don’t let the names confuse you. Genetically, no matter what side of the fence they’re on, the horses are pretty much the same.

What is the Chincoteague pony swim parade route?

The parade route is shown on the Official Pony Swim Guide. Wednesday July 27, 2022 will mark the 97th year of Chincoteague’s annual Pony Swim. The Saltwater Cowboys will swim the ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. The Ponies will swim across the Assateague Channel and come ashore on the east side of Chincoteague Island.

What is Pony Penning Day on Chincoteague Island?

The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company was established in the same year, after a pair of fires ravaged the island. 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.

Where can I meet Chincoteague ponies?

Your chance to meet Chincoteague Ponies up close on Chincoteague Island! Pony Rides, Riding Lessons, Mini Pony Club, Meet a Misty Descendant, Weekend Shows, Gift Shop, and more! A Must place to go while visiting Chincoteague!

When is the best time to visit Chincoteague Island?

To get the best chance to view the Chincoteague ponies, visitors are encouraged to visit between April to October. Can You Walk to See the Wild Chincoteague Ponies?

Are there still Arabian ponies on Chincoteague?

Today there are two groups of these ponies descended down from the only 17 original Arabian Horses in which survived the famous shipwreck. The two groups are “The Maryland Herd” and “The Virginia Herd”. The Virginia Herd consists of approximately 130 head and is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Dept.

How do they keep the ponies on Chincoteague Island?

The ponies swim across the channel during “slack tide” when there are no strong currents. Once on Chincoteague, the ponies are kept in pens on carnival grounds and select foals are auctioned off as a fundraiser for the fire department.

What happened to the Chincoteague pony swim?

Mar 17, 2021 The famous Chincoteague pony swim has been canceled for the second time because of coronavirus. 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.

Why did the Chincoteague pony penning happen?

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.

What breed of horse is Misty of Chincoteague?

The breed was made famous by the Misty of Chincoteague series of novels written by Marguerite Henry starting in 1947. While phenotypically horse-like, they are commonly called “ponies”.

Are Chincoteague horses still alive?

Crossing the Shetland and Welsh Ponies have strengthened the breed, and contributions from the public as well as efforts from the local fire brigade have all worked to make the Chincoteague strong and viable again. The Chincoteague still live wild on their island, but once a year they’re gathered together and a select few colts are auctioned off.

When is the best time of year to visit Chincoteague?

Spring, Summer and Fall, Chincoteague is great to visit pretty much year round. But if you want some fun in the sun definitely make an early summer visit! You can spend hours on the beach, go for a dip in the ocean, head back to town and pick up some awesome vegan ice cream, and enjoy water activities in the bay.

Is the Chincoteague Pony Swim taking place this July?

The Chincoteague Pony Swim, part of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company Carnival, will be taking place this July for the first time since 2019 before COVID forced parts of the carnival to be moved online and other parts to be canceled.

What happens to the wild horses on Chincoteague Island?

Chincoteague’s famous wild horses, which have turned the Eastern Shore island into a popular tourist destination, will swim across the Assateague Channel to the eastern side of Chincoteague Island. The next day, some of the wild horses will be auctioned off in order to control their population in the area.

Is Chincoteague Island’s most popular event returning after a hiatus?

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. ( WRIC) — Chincoteague Island’s most popular event is returning after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

How does the Chincoteague pony survive?

Because living on the island is difficult, the Chincoteague pony (also known as the Assateague Pony) has had to adapt, and it survives by eating marsh and beach grasses.

Who owns the feral ponies on Assateague Island?

The Virginia feral ponies are called “Chincoteague ponies” and are owned by Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. In 1943, the entire island was purchased by the federal government and divided into two protected areas, Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.

When did the Chincoteague pony become a registered equine breed?

It was not until 1994 that the Chincoteague Pony finally became recognized as an official registered equine breed. Chincoteague ponies come from a feral colony of horses that live on their own.

Do Chincoteague Ponies live on Assateague Island?

The first thing to know is that the Chincoteague Ponies do not actually live on Chincoteague Island. They live in the wild on Assateague Island. Assateague Island is about 38 miles long, half of the Island is in Maryland and half is in Virginia.

Is there a pony swim in Chincoteague in 2021?

Summertime is always a special time in Chincoteague. This remains true even with Chincoteague Pony Swim 2021 and the annual Fireman’s Carnival cancelled. Those coming specifically for the wild ponies will be happy to learn that there are lots of ways to see and learn about them outside of the annual swim.