‘Saltwater Cowboys’ lead 150 ponies during annual swim

Chincoteague’s ‘Saltwater Cowboys’ assisted in leading roughly 150 ponies swim from Assateague to Chincoteague early Wednesday morning.

The 91st annual Chincoteague Pony Swim kicked around 10:15 a.m. with a crowd of thousands cheering as the ponies made it to shore.

Controlling this herd takes quite a bit of man-power from the ‘Saltwater Cowboys’. They help navigate the ponies for the swim.

We’re told there’s about 30 cowboys overall.

Beyond the swim, we’re told there many methods of controlling the herd. Roe Terry, public information officer for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, says it ranges from horseback to boats.

“Assateague’s a big island and they will swim from one island to another island to graze so we go up every Sunday on the main line up on the Maryland-Virginia line by boat,” says Terry. “We take four boats, so the riders can pick them back up.”

For more information on the swim, click here.