Pony Penning, sometimes known as Pony Penning Days, Pony Penning Week, or Pony Swim, is an annual event held in Chincoteague, Virginia, on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The official Pony Penning schedule with details about each event is now available and be sure to visit our events page or download the Chincoteague App to learn about all events taking place during this special time or year. For more information about the Chincoteague Ponies, including their history and the origins of the modern-day Pony Swim, check out our Chincoteague Pony web page.
The festivities kick-off the Saturday before the Pony Swim with the Southern Herd Roundup, and conclude the Friday after the Pony Swim when the Ponies swim back to Assateague. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's annual Pony Roundup, Swim & Auction aka Pony Penning always takes place on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in the month of July. The world famous Chincoteague Ponies swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on Wednesday at the first "slack tide".
For 100 years, Chincoteague has brought neighbors and visitors together for a tradition unlike any other. Our team spent weeks preparing to tell the story of the annual summer pony. Pony Penning is an annual event held in Chincoteague, Virginia on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July.
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department conducts the event and it consists of a Pony Swim on Wednesday and a Pony Auction on Thursday. Pony Penning Day is held in Chincoteague Island, Virginia, which is located on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The event is typically held on the last Wednesday of July and continues through the weekend.
This timing coincides with the high tide, which makes it easier for the ponies to swim across the Assateague Channel. When Virginia's Chincoteague Ponies cross the Assateague Channel on July 30, 2025, it will mark the 100th anniversary of Pony Penning. Pony Penning History Pony Penning History Penning began as a way for livestock owners to claim, brand, break and harness their loose herds.
By the 1700's it had become an annual event, with eating and plenty of revelry by the entire community. The earliest known description of Pony Penning was published in 1835. What is the Chincoteague Pony Swim? In its 100th year, the Chincoteague Pony Swim is an annual tradition celebrating the Chincoteague Ponies as they are brought over from Assateague Island and swim the Assateague Channel.
The swim is a part of Pony Penning week, which also includes a carnival and a pony auction. Where is it held?