The sun is out and the air sticky with humidity as thousands gather together in anticipation on the island where wild ponies roam to watch the Chincoteague ponies glide across the serene Assateague Channel for the 98th annual Chincoteague Island Pony Swim.
The estimated time for the swim, set to take place during “slack tide,” is between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. The window changes each year with the tide.
Pony Penning returned to its full glory in 2022 after a two-year COVID-19 in-person hiatus. The nearly 100-year tradition, whose roots are as deep as the marsh mud, includes the Pony Swim on Wednesday and Pony Auction on Thursday. The auction is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which manages the wild pony herd on Assateague Island.
Pony fever reaches an all-time high each year as Pony Penning week kicks off. Hordes of onlookers make the trek to “rekindle, reconnect, and recharge with family and friends” during the island’s celebration.
On Wednesday, charter boats and kayaks filled with spectators lined the Assateague Channel, creating a pathway for the ponies to make their yearly swim from shore to shore. The town of Chincoteague provides a large Jumbotron located at Veterans Memorial Park to help with viewing.
Find out which pony will be named King or Queen Neptune (the first to make landfall) by following along with Delmarva Now. This live report will update throughout the day, following the Pony Swim, rest period and parade.
The ponies take the big plunge to thrill onlookers
The Chincoteague ponies have made the plunge!
The ponies ambled into the crisp bay water at 10 a.m. sharp, and then stepped ashore, greeted, yet again, by a crowd of cooing onlookers grinning from ear to ear.
The ponies were the stars of the show as thousands of people, young and old, rookies and veterans, gathered along the marshland to wave a happy hello to the famed creatures. Here’s a play-by-play of the ponies’ long trek from shore to shore during the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim.
We have a new Queen Neptune!
A chestnut-colored filly, No. 70, was crowned Queen Neptune as the first pony to complete the big Pony Swim.
Horns, flare signal Pony Swim about to start
The horns went off and the flare was shot off at 10 a.m. to signal the big Pony Swim is about to start. “Here they come, here they come,” shouted the announcer as the anticipation kept building.
A ‘perfect morning’ for the big Pony Swim
“It’s a perfect morning,” the announcer said to the growing crowd gathered near the water. “It’s not too hot, certainly not too cold.”
According to the announcer, the ponies will be corralled into the water as soon as the red flare goes up. She advised the crowd to be at the ready.
“I’ve just been told that the Coast Guard will be doing an audible,” she added.
The Coast Guard will blast a horn five times prior to shooting off the flare, as means of informing everyone that the swim is about to start.
She then thanked those in attendance for their support over the years. “Thank you for loving Chincoteague the way you do.”
Crossing off an item on ‘dad’s bucket list’ with photos of special day
Julie Holtzer came more than prepared for today’s Pony Swim. Holtzer, who is from Bristow, Virginia, stood at the front of the picket fence, ankle deep in the mud and marsh grass, dressed in coveralls and rubber boots.
“I saw some pictures online and people were waist deep in mud,” she said with a laugh. “So I decided to wear my waders.”
Today is a special day for the 57-year-old. It’s her first ever Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island. She is also here honoring her father, who is celebrating his 91st birthday today.
Tears sprung to her eyes, her voice thick with emotion, as she spoke of him.
“It’s on my dad’s bucket list,” she said.
She plans on sending him photos and videos, as well as calling him on FaceTime to share in the excitement together.
The ‘Pony Party’ arrives for Chincoteague’s big event
Southern Maryland residents Debbie Bice, 62, and Sarah Davis, 65, have dubbed themselves the official “Pony Party.”
The pair camped overnight with their partners, and scoped out the Pony Swim grounds the day prior.
“It was wonderful. It’s beautiful. It’s like glamping,” Davis said of the campgrounds. “It’s the sun, the outdoors, a brand new RV.”
“The whole pony thing is an experience,” Davis shared. “We spent yesterday scoping it out; where the ponies were going to come out, where we could park, As newcomers, we didn’t know all of that. But the people here were so friendly. They gave us the 4-1-1.”
Bice and Davis already have plans following the swim — plans that involve orange juice and champagne.
“We’re going to have a mimosa bar after we leave here,” Davis said. “It’s the ‘Pony Party!’”
Now, the best friends said, they can check the Chincoteague Pony Swim off their bucket list.
Sisters make girls trip all the way from Missouri to Chincoteague
Sisters Carla Haack and Nancy Ruff used the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony swim as an excuse to take a girl’s trip.
“We stopped (along the way). We did all kind of cool things,” Ruff said of the road trip.
“Yeah,” Haack chimed in. “We did it in two days.”
Ruff, who’s from Las Vegas, Nevada, flew to Saint Louis, Missouri, where she met with Haack. Together, the sisters drove from Missouri to Chincoteague, where they stand awaiting the famed ponies. This is Haack’s second Pony Swim, and Ruff’s very first.
Haack’s love for the historic ponies led her to make a charitable contribution to a “buyback” last year and, again, this year.
A few select foals are designated as ‘buybacks’. A buyback pony is auctioned with the stipulation that it will be donated back to the Fire Company and returned to Assateague Island to replenish the herd, according to Chincoteague.com.
“When I saw them, I thought, that’s something I really believe in,” Haack said. “When I came out here, I just fell in love with the ponies.”
‘Geeking out’ to make the trip all the way from Florida
As they stand ankle deep in the marsh grass and mud, Floridians Karen McGavin, Donovan Leonard and Devi Leonard are reminded of the Everglades.
But, said Devi, luckily, there are no gators here.
Karen, 51, and Devi, 54, best friends since college, have loved horses their whole lives. They even rode Devi’s family’s horse throughout much of their college career. This trip was a no-brainer for the pair.
“I started geeking out two days ago, just looking at the ponies in the corrals,” Devi said. “
Donovan, 53, decided to tag along for a much different reason.
“She loves horses,” Donovan said, pointing to Karen.
“She loves horses,” he repeated, pointing to his wife, Devi. “And I love her.”
The trio laughed together. They are first timers to the historic Chincoteague Pony Swim.
“(Donovan) found this and mentioned it to me, and I teared up,” Devi said. “After reading the books as a child, I put it out of my mind and forgot it existed. I thought I made this place up.”
But, Devi said, Chincoteague is very real.
‘A whole different atmosphere’ at the big Pony Swim
It’s a family and friend-wide affair for South Jersey residents Vicki and Elisabeth Rugenus, Emily and Kaylynn Hyson, and Kayla Gandy.
10-year-old Elisabeth is a first timer for all of the week-long, pony-filled fun. It’s a memory in the making for the young girl.
They’re here to see the ponies and the magic, Vicki, 55, said.
“Usually we just hang out and stand, but they said we could sit on their tarp,” Vicki added, pointing to a few friendly neighbors standing nearby.
“It’s a whole different atmosphere,” she said of Chincoteague. “You can’t duplicate this.”
Vicki and the girls have been here all week long for the pony festivities.
“When we win a pony, that will be the best part,” Vicki said, nudging Elisabeth, who smiled along.
“We’re trying,” Elisabeth said.
If Elisabeth wins a pony, she plans on putting it in her backyard. And food?
“We’ll find food,” she assured everyone. Elisabeth’s got it all covered.
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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
