Hey everyone! I recently uploaded a new YouTube video about the famous Chincoteague Pony Swim. This is from the perspective of a local (me), who’s grown up on the island helping visitors like you see it since 2001, on the Assateague Explorer boat and kayak tour. I’m sharing how to experience this incredible event and tips on how to see it the best. You can avoid the crowds and make the most of your visit to Chincoteague Island, Virginia. This video will give you an insider’s view. Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to my Youtube channel after you read this and watch the video.
The Chincoteague Pony Swim is one of the most unique and historic events on the East Coast. It started back in 1925 as a way to raise funds for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which still manages the event today. Every year at the end of July, the “Saltwater Cowboys” round up the wild ponies from Assateague Island and guide them across the channel to Chincoteague during slack tide when the water is calm. After the swim the foals are auctioned off to help control the herd size and fund the fire company. It’s an incredible blend of tradition, community and wildlife conservation. The Chincoteague Pony Swim is definitely something you want to see.
The best way to experience the Chincoteague Pony Swim is by staying right on Chincoteague Island or nearby at places like Ocean City, Maryland or a bit closer in Pocomoke, Maryland. That way you’re close to all the action. The island of Chincoteague has plenty of charming hotels, cozy rentals, and bed & breakfasts, plus lots of great local restaurants serving fresh seafood and you can find amazing ice cream on the island. For the absolute best view of the pony swim, try watching from the boat or joining the kayak tour. This way you’ll get up close without the big crowds. Even if you’re not here during the swim, the daily pony tour by boat or kayak is a great way to see the wild ponies grazing along Assateague Island’s back bay beaches and marshes. On the daily tour you can also see dolphins, bald eagles and learn more about island history.
These wild ponies are remarkably well suited for swimming, with strong legs and natural instincts that help them navigate the Assateague Channel with ease. The wild horses of Assateague have been making this historic swim over to Chincoteague Island since 1925 and their ability to handle the water is amazing to see. Experiencing the Chincoteague Pony Swim when you travel here during your vacation is one of those rare experiences that you will always remember. The pony swim is the kind of thing some families return for generation after generation. This is a wild event and the kind of moment that stays with you long after the sand at the nearby Assateague beach has left your shoes. The wild ponies doing the Chincoteague Pony Swim have become a proud tradition passed down through generations here in Virginia.