From Desert Heat to Coastal Breeze: The Traveler’s Gallery Begins
Chincoteague Pony Swim — 100th Anniversary Reflections
If you ever read Misty of Chincoteague as a child, like I did, you were likely a wide-eyed horse-loving kid, smitten with the story and its unforgettable heroine, Misty. That book ignited a lifelong love of wild ponies and the mystical island where they roam.
This summer, I had the joy of witnessing the 100th anniversary of the legendary Chincoteague Pony Swim — a living piece of American tradition. I I boarded a pontoon boat with Captain Casey Island Tours, hosted by the gracious and knowledgeable Chelsye and her fiancé, Captain Casey. We floated quietly through the channel, getting an up-close view of the wild ponies as they returned to Assateague Island after their annual swim from Chincoteague. The saltwater shimmered with history and excitement as the Saltwater Cowboys wrangled the herd ashore.
This year’s pony auction raised a record-breaking sum for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department — one foal sold for an astonishing $100,000! It was a joyous sight to see children and adults alike beaming as they brought home a new little pony — or sent their “buyback” foals back to run free with the herd.
Watching the ponies emerge from the water, foals by their sides, was absolutely breathtaking. A timeless American tradition, alive with spirit and story.
It was a magical experience — equal parts wild beauty, childhood nostalgia, and timeless tradition. A living fairytale, still alive on the Atlantic coast