The Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (

The Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

This was the first time the Saltwater Cowboys guided official state ponies across the Assateague Channel, due to the efforts of 17-year-old Sophia Gallivan, of the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team. Gallivan lobbied for the Chincoteague Pony to be recognized as Virginia’s official state pony, and as of July 1, the state law took effect.

Tallula Loeb, 9, left, and brother Felix Loeb, 7, of Ojai, California, eat cereal at 6 a.m. after crossing the marsh to secure a spot to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July

Tallula Loeb, 9, left, and brother Felix Loeb, 7, of Ojai, California, eat cereal at 6 a.m. after crossing the marsh to secure a spot to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Loeb family flew from California to watch the famous Chincoteague Pony Swim. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with a

Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with approximately 100 ponies on the north end of Assateague Island. The roundup lasted 4 hours, from 6 a.m. — 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

A Saltwater Cowboy harnesses up a horse at the Southern Corral after guiding the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at d

A Saltwater Cowboy harnesses up a horse at the Southern Corral after guiding the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at daybreak on Monday, July 24, 2023. All of the Saltwater Cowboys participate in the walk, which includes approximately 50 firefighters. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

90-year-old Jack Brittingham, the oldest Saltwater Cowboy in the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, poses for a portrait after rounding up ponies during the North Herd Roundup on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 202

90-year-old Jack Brittingham, the oldest Saltwater Cowboy in the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, poses for a portrait after rounding up ponies during the North Herd Roundup on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. Brittingham has been a Saltwater Cowboy for 43 years, but has been riding horses all his life. He owns three Chincoteague ponies. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Saltwater Cowboy Lester Wolf, right, talks from inside a truck with Robbie Downs, center, and Jack Brittingham, left, after rounding up the ponies in the Northern Herd on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in prep

Saltwater Cowboy Lester Wolf, right, talks from inside a truck with Robbie Downs, center, and Jack Brittingham, left, after rounding up the ponies in the Northern Herd on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with approximately 100 ponies on the north end of Assateague Island. The roundup lasted 4 hours, from 6 a.m. — 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

The Saltwater Cowboys guide the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at daybreak on Monday, July 24, 2023. All of the Salt

The Saltwater Cowboys guide the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at daybreak on Monday, July 24, 2023. All of the Saltwater Cowboys participate in the walk, which includes approximately 50 firefighters. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with a

Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with approximately 100 ponies on the north end of Assateague Island. The roundup lasted 4 hours, from 6 a.m. — 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot

After trekking through the marsh, spectators line up to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virgi

After trekking through the marsh, spectators line up to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

A spectator plays in the marsh before the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The

A spectator plays in the marsh before the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Chincoteague ponies swim at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (Tess Crow

Chincoteague ponies swim at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Chincoteague ponies rest after swimming during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Chincoteague ponies rest after swimming during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

The Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (
Tallula Loeb, 9, left, and brother Felix Loeb, 7, of Ojai, California, eat cereal at 6 a.m. after crossing the marsh to secure a spot to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July
Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with a
A Saltwater Cowboy harnesses up a horse at the Southern Corral after guiding the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at d
90-year-old Jack Brittingham, the oldest Saltwater Cowboy in the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, poses for a portrait after rounding up ponies during the North Herd Roundup on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 202
Saltwater Cowboy Lester Wolf, right, talks from inside a truck with Robbie Downs, center, and Jack Brittingham, left, after rounding up the ponies in the Northern Herd on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in prep
The Saltwater Cowboys guide the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at daybreak on Monday, July 24, 2023. All of the Salt
Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with a
After trekking through the marsh, spectators line up to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virgi
A spectator plays in the marsh before the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The
Chincoteague ponies swim at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (Tess Crow
Chincoteague ponies rest after swimming during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

The Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

This was the first time the Saltwater Cowboys guided official state ponies across the Assateague Channel, due to the efforts of 17-year-old Sophia Gallivan, of the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team. Gallivan lobbied for the Chincoteague Pony to be recognized as Virginia’s official state pony, and as of July 1, the state law took effect.

Tallula Loeb, 9, left, and brother Felix Loeb, 7, of Ojai, California, eat cereal at 6 a.m. after crossing the marsh to secure a spot to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Loeb family flew from California to watch the famous Chincoteague Pony Swim. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with approximately 100 ponies on the north end of Assateague Island. The roundup lasted 4 hours, from 6 a.m. — 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

A Saltwater Cowboy harnesses up a horse at the Southern Corral after guiding the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at daybreak on Monday, July 24, 2023. All of the Saltwater Cowboys participate in the walk, which includes approximately 50 firefighters. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

90-year-old Jack Brittingham, the oldest Saltwater Cowboy in the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, poses for a portrait after rounding up ponies during the North Herd Roundup on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. Brittingham has been a Saltwater Cowboy for 43 years, but has been riding horses all his life. He owns three Chincoteague ponies. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Saltwater Cowboy Lester Wolf, right, talks from inside a truck with Robbie Downs, center, and Jack Brittingham, left, after rounding up the ponies in the Northern Herd on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with approximately 100 ponies on the north end of Assateague Island. The roundup lasted 4 hours, from 6 a.m. — 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

The Saltwater Cowboys guide the Northern Herd Chincoteague ponies for five miles from the Northern Corral to the Southern Corral along the Atlantic Ocean on Assateague Beach to join the two herds at daybreak on Monday, July 24, 2023. All of the Saltwater Cowboys participate in the walk, which includes approximately 50 firefighters. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Ponies are rounded up by the Saltwater Cowboys at the Northern Corral, on the north end of Assateague Island, Virginia on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in preparation for the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The Northern Herd is the largest herd, with approximately 100 ponies on the north end of Assateague Island. The roundup lasted 4 hours, from 6 a.m. — 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot

After trekking through the marsh, spectators line up to watch the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

A spectator plays in the marsh before the Saltwater Cowboys swim ponies during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Chincoteague ponies swim at 10:15 a.m. during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The swim takes three minutes to complete. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

Chincoteague ponies rest after swimming during slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island on July 26, 2023, in the 98th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Tess Crowley / The Virginian-Pilot)

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