One More Into the History Books
Chincoteague’s 101st Pony Penning delivered new foals, dramatic rescues and $635,600 for the herd’s care.
Pony Penning 2026 began Saturday, July 25, as cowboys rounded up the southern bands of wild ponies on Assateague Island. Despite a rainy ride, the ponies and foals arrived at the pens in good condition.
Days earlier, a new foal had been spotted with Fancy Free, but by mid-afternoon the mare had abandoned it. Because she had also deserted her 2025 foal, the buckskin pinto was taken to the medical building and placed with EJ, a mare from the Leonard family’s Chincoteague Pony Farm. EJ had already adopted and raised Fancy Free’s previous foal and an orphan in 2024. After receiving a plasma transfusion and overnight monitoring, the foal was doing well with his experienced nurse mare.
The northern bands came in Sunday. Veterinarians found a gash on Raven’s leg, treated it and moved her and her foal to the medical building. A full recovery is expected. Four young northern stallions were also trailered to the carnival pens to prevent confrontations with mature stallions.
During Monday’s Beach Walk, the northern bands traveled down the shoreline to the south corral against a backdrop of sea, sand and sunrise. On Tuesday, seven buyback foals were selected to remain on the island and help maintain genetic diversity. The only colt was #38, out of Rumor by Ace or Maverick. Fillies selected were #5, #14, #15, #66, #73 and #82.
Spray paint identified each pony’s status. Orange marked ponies that would be trailered rather than swim, including older animals, heavily pregnant mares, mares with very young foals and ponies with health concerns. Green marked buyback foals and their dams, while pink or purple identified fall-pickup foals that would remain with their dams until age-appropriate collection dates.
Tuesday evening brought a surprise when Bella gave birth at the south pens to foal #88, a buckskin pinto colt by Twist. Mother and foal were moved to the carnival pens for observation. Eighty-eight foals had been born by Pony Penning, seven of which died in the wild.
On Wednesday, the first foal ashore was named King Neptune. Ten-year-old Fiona Maloney of South Carolina won the raffle for the buckskin pinto colt out of Mayli Mist by Maverick.
Fire company public information officer and pony committee member Hunter Leonard praised the weather and the team’s quick response to problems. A veterinarian stationed on the Assateague side noticed that Ms. Peg was limping before the swim. She was sedated, moved by barge and trailer, and sent to New Bolton, where a full recovery is expected.
Thursday’s auction sold 80 foals and raised $635,600 for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Funds help cover vaccinations, emergency care, hay drops and veterinary expenses. The seven buybacks generated $237,200, including a $60,000 bid for Tuney’s black filly. The highest-priced take-home foal was Gingersnap’s palomino pinto filly at $10,500.
Another successful Pony Penning showed both the enduring magic of the tradition and the extraordinary care given to Chincoteague’s wild ponies.
