Thousands gather to watch 100th annual wild pony swim

The Chincoteague wild ponies have made their annual swim across the Assateague Channel in Virginia

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveCrowds cheer 100th annual wild pony swimThe Chincoteague wild ponies have made their annual swim across the Assateague Channel in Virginia for the 100th time.

The tradition began in 1925 and sees "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback round up the ponies, who then swim the channel and come ashore on the east side of Chincoteague Island.

The event hosted by the Chincoteague Fire Department, which manages the ponies, includes an auction of some of the foals.

The money raised helps control the size of the herd to help maintain a healthy pony population on Assateague, where the ponies live most of the year.

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