Photos: Pony swim
The famed ponies of Chincoteague and Assateague made their annual swim Wednesday, but they had to brave some bad weather of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Thousands of visitors watched as about 130 ponies crossed the channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague beneath the downpour of a sudden thunderstorm. Local news media reported that the storm, combined with a full moon and a high tide, made the swim especially challenging. The 88th edition of the spectacle was celebrated by Marguerite Henry's 1947 novel "Misty of Chincoteague." -- AP
Pony Swim
Chincoteague Ponies swim across Assateague Channel in a heavy downpour on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 during the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. A portion of the herd will be auctioned on Thursday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Swim
Saltwater Cowboys drive the Chincoteague Pony herd into Assateague Channel in a heavy downpour on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 during the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. A portion of the herd will be auctioned on Thursday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News) (AP Photo/The Daily Times)
Pony swim
Saltwater Cowboy John Wesley Bloxom watches the remaining members of the Chincoteague Pony herd finish their swim across Assateague Channel in a heavy downpour on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 during the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Swim
A Chincoteague Pony swims across Assateague Channel in a heavy downpour on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 during the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. A portion of the herd will be auctioned on Thursday. (Ap Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Swim
Chincoteague Ponies swim across Assateague Channel in a heavy downpour on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 during the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. A portion of the herd will be auctioned on Thursday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony swim
Chincoteague Ponies swim across Assateague Channel in a heavy downpour on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 during the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. A portion of the herd will be auctioned on Thursday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shroe News)
Pony Swim
Saltwater Cowboys drive the Chincoteague Pony herd through the streets of Chincoteague, Va. on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 during the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The ponies swam during a heavy rain. A portion of the herd will be auctioned on Thursday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Swim
A boat in Assateague Channel is dwarfed by a thunderstorm cloud just before the Chincoteague Ponies hit the water for their annual swim to Chincoteague, Va. on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. The storm brought heavy rain as the ponies made the 88th annual swim. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shroe News)
Pony Penning
Chincoteague Ponies are driven to their holding pen during the southern herd roundup on Assateague Island, Va. on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The roundup is in preperation for the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Penning
Saltwater Cowboy Jack Cooper leads his horse out of its trailer for Saturday's roundup of the southern herd of Chincoteague Ponies on Assateague Island, Va. on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The 88th Annual Pony Swim is on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Penning
Chincoteague Ponies make their way across a small stream during the southern herd roundup on Assateague Island, Va. on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim was Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Penning 2013
Saltwater Cowboys Thurman Moore, right, and Peanut Moore head out for Saturday's South Herd Round up at Assateague Island, Va. on Saturday, July 20, 2013. The roundup is in preperation for the 88th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jay Diem, Eastern Shore News)
Pony Penning Daily Life
"Saltwater Cowboys" drive the northern herd of wild ponies to their holding pen on Assateague Island, Va. on Monday morning, July 22, 2013. "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback began to round up the approximately 150 wild ponies that live on Assateague Island prior to Chincoteague's 88th annual Pony Swim on Wednesday, July 24. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem)
Pony Penning Daily Life
"Saltwater Cowboys" drive the northern herd of wild ponies to their holding pen on Assateague Island, Va. on Monday morning, July 22, 2013. "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback began to round up the approximately 150 wild ponies that live on Assateague Island prior to Chincoteague's 88th annual Pony Swim on Wednesday, July 24. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem)
Pony Penning Daily Life
A Chincoteague pony breaks away from its herd along the beach at Assateague Island, Va. on Monday morning, July 22, 2013. "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback began to round up the approximately 150 wild ponies that live on Assateague Island prior to Chincoteague's 88th annual Pony Swim on Wednesday, July 24. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem)
Pony Penning Daily Life
"Saltwater Cowboys" drive the northern herd of wild ponies to their holding pen on Assateague Island, Va. on Monday morning, July 22, 2013. "Saltwater Cowboys" on horseback began to round up the approximately 150 wild ponies that live on Assateague Island prior to Chincoteague's 88th annual Pony Swim on Wednesday, July 24. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem)
Pony Swim
A Chincoteague Pony foal waits to be auctioned during the 88th annual Chincoteague Pony Auction on Thursday, July 25, 2013. A portion of the wild pony herd is auctioned after the Pony Swim to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., which owns and maintains the herd. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem) NO SALES
Pony Swim
Billy Reed III holds down a young Chincoteague Pony foal as it is auctioned on Thursday, July 25, 2013. A portion of the Chincoteague Pony herd is auctioned off after the Pony Swim to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., which owns and maintains the herd. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem) NO SALES
Pony Swim
Micayla Morin is overcome with emotion as she greets the Chincoteague Pony she just won at auction on Thursday, July 25, 2013. A portion of the Chincoteague Pony herd is auctioned off each year after the Pony Swim to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., which owns and maintains the herd. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem) NO SALES
Pony Swim
Saltwater Cowboys Alex Tucker and John Wayne Rhodes control a Chincoteague Pony foal up for auction on Thursday, July 25, 2013. A portion of the Chincoteague Pony herd is auctioned off after the Pony Swim to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co. which owns and maintains the herd. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem) NO SALES
Pony Swim
Micayla Morin is overcome with emotion after winning a Chincoteague Pony at auction on Thursday, July 25, 2013. A portion of the Chincoteague Pony herd is auctioned off after the Pony Swim to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., which owns and maintains the herd. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem) NO SALES
Pony Swim
Krista Reed (from left), Cody Savage and Mackenzie Savage control a Chincoteague Pony foal up for auction on Thursday, July 25, 2013. A portion of the Chincoteague Pony herd is auctioned after the Pony Swim to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., which owns and maintains the herd. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem) NO SALES
Pony Swim
Frances Bidoglio, 99, reaches out to pet the buyback Chincoteague Pony she won at auction on Thursday, July 25, 2013. Bidoglio has been attending the Chincoteague Pony auction for 20 years and will name her pony "Grandma's Dream." A buyback pony is named by the winning bidder but will return to Assateague Island, Va. to live wild. (AP Photo/Eastern Shore News, Jay Diem) NO SALES
CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. — The famed ponies of Chincoteague and Assateague made their annual swim Wednesday, but they had to brave some bad weather.
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