Chincoteague Pony Swim
Since 1925, rain or shine, the Volunteer Fireman's Carnival Pony Round Up and Swim across Assateaque Channel at Chincoteague Memorial Park on the east side of island has delighted visitors from across the globe. At "slack tide" on the last Wednesday of every July, Chincoteaque's "Saltwater Cowboys" herd about 150 ponies across Assateaque Channel. The ponies are rested and then herded and paraded to the carnival grounds. On Thursday ponies are auctioned as a fundraiser to benefit the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.
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Ponies emerging from the Assateague Channel The event was popularized by the book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry published in 1947 and it now usually draws from 40,000 to 50,000 spectators.
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Chicoteague Ponies making the annual swim For the Wild Pony Swim, Salt Water Cowboys round up feral Chincoteague Ponies from Assateague Island and drive them across the Assateague Channel to Veteran’s Memorial Park on Chincoteague Island.
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Penned Ponies Once on Chincoteague Island, the salt water cowboys herd the ponies to pens on the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds where some of the foals are auctioned off on Thursday.
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Pony admiring crowds gather An estimated forty to fifty thousand spectators gather yearly for the annual Pony Swim across Assateague Channel.
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Ponies gather to people watch Approximately 150 ponies gather annually to watch 40 to 50 thousand people penned up to pony watch.
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Mr. Whippy doing brisk business It was hot outside at the annual Pony Swim, and Mr. Whippy was on hand to cool down the crowds with his tasty assortment of frozen treats. Thank you Mr. Whippy - you're so "cool."
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Chincoteague High School scoreboard Chincoteague High School, home of the fightin' Ponies, serves grades 6-12 in the Accomack County Public Schools district in Virginia. It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 6 out of 10. based on its performance on state standardized tests.
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