Crowds cheer 100th annual wild pony swim

The 100th annual wild pony swim event took place in Chincoteague, Virginia, where crowds gathered to witness the iconic tradition. The Chincoteague wild ponies, a herd of feral horses, swam across the Assateague Channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island as they have done for a century. This event, known as the Pony Swim, is a significant cultural and tourist attraction for the region. The swim was followed by the annual Pony Penning Day, where the foals are auctioned off to help manage the herd size and raise funds for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns and cares for the ponies. The event drew large crowds, including both locals and visitors, who cheered on the ponies as they made their way across the waterway. The Chincoteague wild ponies are a unique and beloved part of the region's heritage, and the 100th annual Pony Swim was a celebratory milestone for the community.