Thousands watch Chincoteague wild ponies complete 100th annual swim in Virginia

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (AP) — Thousands gathered in Virginia to watch the Chincoteague wild ponies make their annual swim across the Assateague Channel in the 100th anniversary of the popular tradition.

Foal No. 36 was the champion of the short channel swim on Wednesday and crowned “King Neptune,” the title given each year to the first to complete the swim, according to the Chincoteague Fire Department.

The horses were made famous in the 1947 classic children’s novel “Misty of Chincoteague” by author Marguerite Henry.

“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 includes an auction of some of the foals to help control the size of the herd and maintain a healthy pony population on Assateague Island, where the ponies live most of the year. The auction is also the biggest annual fundraiser for the fire department, which manages the wild pony herd.

The tradition began in 1925 as a way to raise money for Chincoteague’s volunteer fire company. Interest in the pony swim grew, and visitors began coming from across the country for the annual event.

“Misty of Chincoteague” made the event famous around the world.