UPDATED – 07/31/26 – The ponies returned to Assateague Island early this morning. Thursday was the pony auction for the foals at the Chincoteague Carnival Grounds. The annual Pony Auction raises funds for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and veterinary care of the ponies and serves to control the pony population on Assateague Island. ======================================================ORIGINAL STORY – 07/28/26 – People from around the world are converging on Chincoteague Wednesday morning for the historic 101st annual Chincoteague pony swim across the Assateague Channel. The two pony herds were merged on Monday and will swim across the channel between 8 and 10:30am – coming ashore on the east side of Chincoteague Island.