Chinoteague’s annual Pony Swim back on for 2022

Wednesday July 27, 2022 will mark the 97th year of Chincoteague’s annual Pony Swim.

For more information about the Chincoteague Ponies, including their history and the origins of the modern day Pony Swim, check out our Chincoteague Pony web page.

The festivities kick-off the Saturday before the Pony Swim with the Southern Herd Roundup, and conclude the Friday after the Pony Swim when the Ponies swim back to Assateague.

The Chincoteague Fireman’s Carnival – with rides, games, raffles, and lots of good food – will be open each night (Mon – Sat) during pony penning week beginning at 7pm. Misty of Chincoteague will be showing, at 11:00 am daily, at the Island Theater during pony penning week (Mon – Fri). Admission is free and is first come, first served.

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Southern Herd Roundup

The weekend prior to Wednesday’s Pony Swim, “Saltwater Cowboys” on horseback will begin to round up the approximately 150 adult wild ponies that live on Assateague Island, along with the 60 to 70 foals that were born in the spring.

About 50 adult ponies and their foals live on the southern end of Assateague Island. The Saltwater Cowboys will begin rounding them up into the South Corral Saturday afternoon beginning at about 4:30 pm. The South Corral is located on Assateague, in front of the Woodland Trail parking lot, just off the road that leads to the beach. The South Corral is accessible to the public. Park in the Woodland Trail parking lot, or along the beach road. If you park in the Woodland Trail parking lot, please note that once the gates are open for the ponies to enter the corral, your vehicle will not be able to leave the parking lot until all the ponies are in the corral and the gates are closed.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WOODLAND TRAIL PARKING LOT ON GOOGLE MAPS

The ponies will remain in the South Corral, and can be viewed by the public, until the Pony Swim on Wednesday morning.