Spring Roundup 2026

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

• Date: 4/10/2026

The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company will hold its annual Spring Roundup to perform a routine health check on all of the wild ponies, and to identify any new foals that may have been born. Ponies that were selected as buybacks in last year's Pony Swim that have been held at the Carnival Grounds will also be released back onto Assateague following this Spring Roundup. 

On Friday afternoon, our famous Saltwater Cowboys will round up the southern herd of ponies (this takes 1-2 hours), corralling them in the South Pen that's located just in front of the Woodland Trail Parking lot. The ponies will remain in the corral overnight, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to see their favorite ponies up close!

On Saturday morning, the Cowboys will head out to herd the northern herd to corral them in the north pen. Due to the large amount of land that has to be covered to round up this herd, this roundup can take 5-6 hours. The public will be allowed to walk up the Service Road to the cattle grate (3 miles each way), but access further north won't be allowed until the roundup is complete for the safety of the public and the ponies.