CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. — Visitors and locals gathered for Chincoteague Island's 100th World Famous Pony Swim, which kicked off Wednesday morning.
Watch: Chincoteague Island's 100th World Famous Pony Swim in action
Thousands of spectators looked on as the ponies swam from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island with help from the Saltwater Cowboys — the firemen with the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. They work in the community and take care of the ponies when they're not volunteering at the fire station.
With the help of the Saltwater Cowboys, more than 100 wild ponies started their swim in the Assateague Channel at 8:06 a.m., reaching the Chincoteague shore by 8:11 a.m., according to our newsgathering partner Shore Daily News.
Previous coverage: Ponies make iconic swim to Chincoteague Island in 2024
Now that the ponies have reached Chincoteague Island, they'll parade through the town, followed by the annual auction at the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds.
The event is held each year by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company as a fundraiser to help the area's fire department and cull the herd.
Previous coverage: Aerial video of 2023 Chincoteague Pony Swim
The pony swim, often regarded as one of the most unique annual traditions across the country, is celebrated by locals and visitors alike. For many, the fascination with the island of Chincoteague stemmed from reading the famous six-volume book series, Misty of Chincoteague. The pony swim's history was highlighted in 2023 by News 3's former reporter Penny Kmitt and former photojournalist Lydia Johnson in a digital documentary, shown below.
Watch documentary: The Chincoteague Island Pony Swim
