🐴CHINCOTEAGUE HORSE DRIVE🐴

HISTORY

• The earliest known description of Pony Penning was published in 1835.
• believed to have been begun by two islanders who owned large herds that grazed on Chincoteague.
• The penning continued on the islands for years.
• In 1909, the last Wednesday and Thursday of July were set as the official dates for the yearly events.

MODERN DAY

• Pony Penning is still held in July during the Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen's Carnival.
• The Pony Auction not only provides source of revenue for fire company but it also helps to trim herd's numbers.
• To retain the permit to graze on the refuge, the herd must not exceed 150 horses.

PROCESS

• "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback will begin to round up the approximately 150 wild ponies that live on Assateague Island.
• About 50 ponies reside on the southern end of Assateague Island, and will be herded into a southern corral Saturday
• About 100 ponies reside a little further north on the Assateague Island, and will be herded into a northen corral Sunday
• The ponies can be viewed by public in southern corral, which is located on Assateague, just off the road that leads to the beach.

🐴 BUY BACK PONY 🐴

• Each year the Fire Company designates a select few ponies as "Buy Backs".
• A Buy Back Pony is a foal that is designated by the Fire Company to return to Assateague Island to live out its life there.
• The Buy Back Pony will be auctioned with the rest of the foals.
• The winner of a Buy Back Pony will get to name the Pony before it is returned to Assateague.
• Buy Back Ponies have actually become some of the highest priced ponies sold at the auction.

CREDITS

• http://www.chincoteague.com/pony_swim_guide.html
• http://www.chincoteague.com/pony_swim_guide.html