The Chincoteague Pony
Small but sturdy, most are around 13 hands tall. They have adapted to their environment over the years by eating dune and marsh grasses and drinking fresh water from ponds. The herds run in both Maryland and Virginia. The Maryland herd is managed by the National Park Service who embrace a more hands-off approach toward the wild ponies.
The Virginia side herd is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. They are managed by the Saltwater Cowboys and Firefighters who care for the sick and hurt, and also provide supplements for healthy ponies and foals. They even make sure all ponies have their vaccinations and coggins testing done. There are three round ups per year. One in the spring and one in the fall and of course the one everyone knows, Pony Penning Days.
No one really knows when the very first pony penning was held, but it has been going on for hundreds of years. Back in 1925 the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company held its first Fireman's Carnival to help pay for equipment they needed. During this event they also included a pony penning. Now, because of books and the hard work of The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, it's 93 years later and this event is known around the world.
10 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Monday's Beach Walk
You must arrive early to secure a good parking spot and a decent place to watch the ponies come down the beach. During the Beach Walk the Saltwater Cowboys move the northern herd of wild ponies to the holding pens at about sunrise.
I was worried at first because it was raining and very stormy. But the storms didn't stop me, the Saltwater Cowboys or the hundreds of others who lined the beach to see these amazing wild ponies. Just as we started to see them coming down the beach, the sun came out! At this point, the riders moved around the herd forming a line between the wild ponies and the hundreds of folks lining the beach, to protect the people and to keep the ponies calm. I noticed as I watched the riders, they had a saddled, unmounted horse riding in front of the herd. I learned it was in honor of a Saltwater Cowboy they had lost that year, his horse was making one last ride for him.
The riders driving the ponies didn't use ropes to handle the ponies. Whips cracked to keep the ponies moving forward, but they never touched the ponies. They calmly went down the beach and headed out to the holding pens. One foal was very tired and the Saltwater Cowboys jumped in to catch the foal, again hands only. They loaded the baby up in the back of a gator and quickly returned it to the herd at the holding pens.
There are three round ups per year. One in the spring and one in the fall and of course the one everyone knows, Pony Penning Days.
The Virginia herd is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. They are managed by the Saltwater Cowboys and Firefighters who care for the sick and hurt, and also provide supplements for healthy ponies and foals. They even make sure all ponies have their vaccinations and coggins testing done.
No one really knows when the very first pony penning was held, but it has been going on for hundreds of years. In 1925 the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company held its first Fireman's Carnival to help pay for equipment they needed. During this event they also included a pony penning. Now, because of books and the hard work of The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, 93 years later and the event is known around the world.
The beach walk at sunrise, driving the ponies to the holding pens
They don't do this because of money, they do this to care for the ponies, their community and family tradition.