2019 Pony Penning
Pony Penning 2019
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his year will be the 93rd Chincoteague Pony Swim, made famous by Marguerite Henry's "Misty of Chincoteague." Tens of thousands of people from around the globe gather to watch this annual tradition, and it's a week-long event!
Saturday, July 20 & Sunday, July 21 (Roundup) There are approximately 50 adult ponies and their foals who live on the southern end of Assateague Island. On Saturday afternoon, the Saltwater Cowboys will begin rounding them up into the Southern Corral. This corral is located on Assateague, on the road to the beach, and is accessible to the public. The public can view the Ponies in the Southern Corral all day Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. 56
Inside Chincoteague 2019
Approximately 100 adult ponies and foals call the north end of the Island home. Those ponies are rounded-up on Sunday morning before Pony Penning and herded to the North Corral. While this corral does not have public access, there are bus trips available to view them at this location. Space is limited. Inquire at your hotel for more information.
Tuesday, July 23 - Vet Checks
Monday, July 22 - Beach Walk
Pony Swim is the peak of this week-long celebration as the Saltwater Cowboys swim the ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. The Ponies will swim across the Channel on the slack tide (the actual swim time varies from year to year and is typically between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.) and come ashore on the east side of Chincoteague Island. The main public viewing area is Veterans Memorial park, located at 7427 Memorial Park Dr. The Ponies
On Monday, at daybreak, the official "Beach Walk" gets underway as the Saltwater Cowboys move the ponies from the Northern Corral south along the Atlantic Ocean and join them with the ponies in the Southern Corral. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will open at 5:00 a.m. on Beach Walk day, to view the Ponies journey down the beach.
All of the Ponies will be checked by a vet, and this activity can be viewed by the public in the Southern Corral on the road to the beach.
Wednesday, July 24 - Pony Swim