Photo Release: Coast Guard enforces safety zone for 92nd Annual Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island, VA

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/26/2017 05:49 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Photo Release  

July 26, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
Office: (757) 398-6272
After Hours: (757) 434-7712

Photo Release: Coast Guard enforces safety zone for 92nd Annual Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island, VA

A herd of wild ponies crosses Assateague Channel during the 92nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, July 26, 2017. Two boat crews from Coast Guard Station Chincoteague enforced safety zones for the event, which drew thousands of onlookers from across the country. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)

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CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. — The Coast Guard enforced a safety zone for the 92nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim in Assateague Channel Wednesday.

Two Coast Guard 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crews from Station Chincoteague worked alongside Virginia Marine Police crews to keep onlookers safe.

Station Chincoteague crew members ignited orange smoke signals at 6:47 a.m. to denote slack tide and mark the official start of the event.

Saltwater Cowboys then guided a herd of about 200 wild ponies across the channel. It took the ponies 18 minutes to swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island.

Thousands of spectators gather on the eastern side of Chincoteague Island and along the channel to witness the Pony Swim each year.

Crew members aboard a Coast Guard 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat from Station Chincoteague, Virginia, ignite orange smoke signals to mark slack tide and the beginning of the 92nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim in Assateague Channel, July 26, 2017. Thousands gathered to watch Saltwater Cowboys swim a herd of wild ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)
A Coast Guard 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Station Chincoteague, Virginia, patrols the edge of a safety zone before the 92nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim in Assateague Channel, July 26, 2017. Station Chincoteague personnel helped clear the channel of kayakers, boaters and waders to ensure onlookers stayed safe during the event. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)
Wild ponies swim across Assateague Channel during the 92nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, July 26, 2017. Coast Guard Station Chincoteague personnel help local law enforcement agencies enforce safety zones for the event each year. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)
A wild pony and foal rest after swimming Assateague Channel during the 92nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, July 26, 2017. After the ponies crossed the channel, Saltwater Cowboys led them to the parade grounds, where many of the foals will be sold at auction. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)
A Coast Guard 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Station Chincoteague, Virginia, enforces a safety zone during the 92nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim in Assateague Channel, July 26, 2017. Station Chincoteague personnel worked with local agencies to clear a path for Saltwater Cowboys as they guided a herd of wild ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)

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