Chincoteague Ponies in the Fall

spot to watch. Photo by Kellie Kvern
The last Wednesday of July the Salt Water Cowboys head to Assateague and round up every pony. They wait for slack tide a period when the water is very still just before the tide changes then herd the ponies into the water for the channel crossing.
The swim is done at the narrowest point of the channel and takes just a few minutes. Once theyre safely on solid Chincoteague ground they parade down Main Street to the carnival grounds. On Thursday the foal auction is held and the proceeds from these sales pay for the herds veterinary care and help fund the volunteer fire department.
Once theyre all in the pen the cowboys and other volunteers will funnel the ponies through a series of narrower chutes that lead to a stall where the veterinarians are working. The ponies are familiar with this process. Once theyre in the veterinary stall ponies receive a health exam including of their teeth and hooves. Theyre dewormed and get seasonal vaccines. All the ponies are known and microchipped so veterinarians can be sure they see every pony and ensure the herds are thriving. Photo by Kellie Kvern
Attending the Pony Penning can be a horse lovers trip of a lifetime. You get to be a part of all the excitement the carnival the swim the auction and the history. However you also get to be part of a crowd that can number between 30000 and 40000 peopleall together on a tiny island!
In 2015 an online group formed called the Chincoteague Legacy Group CLG. Their goal was to purchase a buyback foal during Pony Penning. With over 400 people contributing from all over the world they set a record bid of 25000! The filly was named CLG Blue Moon and is grown now with her own foals. Shown CLG Blue Moon with her 2020 foal who inherited her stunning blue eyes. Photo by Kellie Kvern
Around 70 foals are born per season and the spring roundup allows veterinarians to see the earliestborn foals. The spring roundup is also when the buyback foals from the previous year are released out with the rest of the herd after spending the winter at the carnival grounds. The fall roundup will check on foals born after the summer Pony Penning. Photo by Kellie Kvern
Visiting in Spring or Fall
If youd like to be a part of the fun but
maybe not the crowds the fire department has two other annual roundups in April and October. These are health checks where ponies are rounded up but do not swim to Chincoteague they stay on the bigger island and the veterinarians get a chance to see them.
A fanfavorite pony is the 2009 stallion Riptide. His sire was one of the most famous ponies since Misty. The late stallion was named Surfer Dude but he was known as the King of Assateague. Surfer Dude was 23 years old when he died in 2015 and he passed on his moviestar good looks to his son. Riptide now has his own band of mares and has become king of the southern herd. Photo by Kellie Kvern
When all the ponies have been accounted for and the health checks are finished they are let out of the corral and make their way back out into the wild including Riptide left. Photo by Kellie Kvern
The spring and fall roundups are open to the public in designated areas. With much smaller crowds theyre a great chance to see the ponies up close and experience a special part of the unique pony culture.