Pony Event Schedule
JOIN US FOR THE PONY SWIM EXPERIENCE!
101st ANNUAL CHINCOTEAGUE PONY SWIM & aUCTION
jULY 29 & 30, 2026
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Presented in Partnership with the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, The Town of Chincoteague, and the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce
This is the Official Pony Swim Guide, featuring verified information directly from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and the Town of Chincoteague.
Inside, you'll find:
- A full schedule of events
- Updated maps and logistics
- Tips for getting the most out of the week
- Details on security measures, road closures, the Trolley schedule, and updated Swim Shuttle stops
Even if you’re a seasoned attendee, this year is unlike any other. Get your guide today to be prepared and make the most of this once-in-a-century celebration!
Printed copies available at the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, 6733 Maddox Blvd and the Carnival Information Stand.
Guides, Maps, & Important Information
Download The Official 2025 Pony Swim Guide
The Pony Shuttle Map & Pony Swim Packets are available now at the Chamber Office, 6733 Maddox Boulevard! Stop by and see us!
Read the Pony Swim Experience Blog
PLEASE BE REMINDED: No pets or emotional support animals are permitted on shuttle buses, Pony Express trolleys, at Veteran's Memorial Park, or at the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds. Service animals specifically trained to aid a disabled person are permitted.
NEW Carnival Rules - Please remove hoods, masks are not allowed (except for medical reasons), no loitering, and all bags are subject to search. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this measure for your safety.
Learn full details about these and all other events on our events calendar.
Thursday, July 2 & Friday, July 3, 2026
CARNIVAL - Opening Ceremony on Friday at TBD
6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
Saturday, July 4, 2026
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
Click here for more carnival details.
Friday, July 10 & Saturday, July 11, 2026
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
Click here for more carnival details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
Friday, July 24, 2026
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
NEPTUNE RAFFLE TICKET SALES BEGIN - Raffle tickets for King or Queen Neptune, the first pony not already designated as a buyback pony to come ashore on Chincoteague Pony Swim day, will be on sale at the Information Stand at the Carnival Grounds! Tickets are a $1 each, no matter how many tickets are purchased. Drawing will be Wednesday night at approximately 7:30pm at the band stand. Please note, this is the ONLY raffle that you MUST be present to win! Limited tickets are sold, so purchase yours before they sell out.
Click here for more carnival details.PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
Saturday, July 25, 2026
SOUTH HERD ROUNDUP - starts at 7:00am
This is the first major event before the exciting Pony Swim! The "Saltwater Cowboys" will ride out to the southern end of Assateague Island, VA to herd the more than 50 ponies (adults and foals) inhabiting this part of the island into the Southern Corral. The public may come view the arrival of the ponies at the Southern Corral on Beach Road. The ponies will be here Saturday through Tuesday for photos and viewing.
PLEASE NOTE: Pets are not permitted on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
Click here for more Sout Herd Roundup details.
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
PURCHASE YOUR NEPTUNE RAFFLE TICKETS
Click here for more carnival details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
View South Herd Roundup video:
Sunday, July 26, 2026
NORTH HERD ROUNDUP - starts at 6:00am
Note: Public is NOT permitted to north herd roundup as this part of the island is not accessible
The northern end of Assateague Island, VA is home to the largest population of ponies and their foals, about 100 to 150 total. The "Saltwater Cowboys" herd this group into the Northern Corral.
Monday, July 27, 2026
BEACH WALK - 6am North meets south when the "Saltwater Cowboys" release the Northern herd ponies and walk them along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean to join the ponies at the Southern Corral. This takes place on Assateague Island, VA.
Ponies leave North Corral at daybreak. It is advised to be at Assateague Island National Seashore, VA by 6am for parking purposes. Assateague Island opens at 5am. Bring your beach gear and stay for the day or walk behind the ponies to the corral and visit awhile. Bikers and hikers may access the beach via Swan Cove Trail.
PLEASE NOTE: Pets are not permitted on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
Click here for more Beach Walk details.
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
PURCHASE YOUR NEPTUNE RAFFLE TICKETS
Click here for more carnival details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
View Beach Walk video:
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
VET CHECKS & SELECTION OF BUYBACK PONIES - South Corral. Approximately 9am.
We want to be sure our ponies are healthy for the big swim. The public may view the ponies in the Southern Corral during the veterinary checks. Parking is available in the lot at Woodland Trail.
PLEASE NOTE: Pets are not permitted on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
Click here for more Vet Check & Selection of Buyback Ponies details.
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
PURCHASE YOUR NEPTUNE RAFFLE TICKETS
Click here for more carnival details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
SHUTTLES - Begin at TBD and end approx. one hour after ponies arrive at the Carnival Grounds (free).
Click here for the Shuttle Map.
PONY SWIM - 7:00am - 1:00pm slack tide window (it is advised you arrive much earlier than that)
At "slack tide"- The Chincoteague Ponies will swim across the Assateague Channel, led by the Saltwater Cowboys, just south of Veterans Memorial Park (7427 Memorial Park Dr, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336) on the east side of Chincoteague Island called Pony Swim Lane. Folks wishing to view the swim from Pony Swim Lane are advised to wear appropriate attire "old clothing and closed toe shoes or muck boots" as this area is very muddy.
There is no charge by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company or Town of Chincoteague for parking or seeing the ponies swim. There is no parking permitted at Veteran's Memorial Park. All those seeking handicap parking and all day-trippers are encouraged to go to the Municipal Center (6150 Community Drive, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336) and catch a free shuttle. There will be a handicap accessible bus for your convenience. Those staying on the island may catch a shuttle bus near their lodging. Tour buses should call the Town office 757-336-6519 to make parking arrangements.
Charter boats and kayak tours/rentals are also available for watching the Pony Swim. Call the chamber office at 757-336-6161 for assistance in finding available seats. Spaces fill up quickly so don't wait until the last minute.
The first foal to come ashore will be named King or Queen Neptune and will be given away in a raffle drawing at the carnival grounds bandstand at 7:30pm. Tickets are sold each night at the carnival and during the wait time for the swim. A limited number of tickets are sold. You must have a ticket and you must be present to win.
After swimming the short distance across the channel, the ponies will rest for approximately 45 minutes to an hour before "parading" to the carnival grounds on Main Street. See shuttle bus map for parade route.
PLEASE NOTE: This event takes place on Assateague and Chincoteague Island, VA. Pets are not permitted in Veteran's Memorial Park or the Carnival Grounds.
Click here for more Pony Swim details.
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
NEPTUNE RAFFLE DRAWING - Drawing will be at approximately 7:30pm at the band stand. Please note, this is the ONLY raffle that you MUST be present to win! Limited tickets are sold, so purchase yours before they sell out.
Click here for more carnival details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
Video Coverage of the Swim: The Chamber of Commerce will post videos and photos of the swim as soon as possible on the day of the swim!
From Delmarva Sports Network: This year, they will be airing team coverage from WBOC, CoastTV, and DSN personnel on DSN on cable and over-the-air television, as well as streaming it on DSN+ for those who live out of the area and cannot make it in person.
https://www.delmarvasportsnetwork.com/ponyswim/View Pony Swim & Pony Parade videos:
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Thursday, July 30, 2026
AUCTION OF FOALS - 8am at Carnival grounds
The annual pony auction raises funds for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and for the veterinary care of the ponies. The auction also serves to help control the pony population on Assateague Island. Foals will be auctioned at 8am on the Carnival grounds, and winners will receive certificates of purchase from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.
Select ponies, designated as "buy backs," will also be auctioned, but returned to the herd to help maintain the population. Each winner of a "buy back" pony gets to name their adopted pony. The "buy back" auctions are typically the most popular at this event, so if you're interested in naming a Chincoteague pony be ready to bid!
For rules, regulations, in-person and online bidding, and auction stats from previous years, visit our Pony Auction page.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 8am - 1pm FREE
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
Click here for more carnival details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds. ($0.50 per ride)
Friday, July 31, 2026
PONY SWIM BACK - Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company lead South Herd ponies from Carnival Grounds at TBD and reverse the Pony Parade Route with an anticipated swim time of TBD. The ponies will not rest at the marsh but will swim immediately. North herd ponies are trailered back to their grazing area Thursday after the auction. (typically 2 hours later than Pony Swim time)
On Friday morning, the adult ponies make their swim back to Assateague Island where they will live until it's time for the Pony Swim next year!
Click here for more Pony Swim Back details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 7am - 1pm FREE.
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
Click here for more carnival details.
PONY EXPRESS TROLLEY SERVICE - 5pm - 11pm. Last call at 10:45pm in front of Carnival Grounds ($0.50 per ride)
Saturday, August 1, 2026
CARNIVAL - 6pm - 10pm. Rides, games, food, live music, Bingo, and raffles.
Click here for more carnival details.
See more videos of past Pony Penning and Swim events on our Facebook page!
