Thousands Turn Out for 93nd Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim

...COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... * WHAT...Up to one half foot of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...Dorchester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties. * WHEN...Through late tonight. * IMPACTS...Shallow flooding is possible in the most vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Tidal departures increase later Sunday into early Monday, with a more widespread minor flood event likely. Stay tuned for updates and the issuance of a Coastal Flood Advisory. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Do not drive through flooded roadways. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. CAMBRIDGE MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 4.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.5 FT, MODERATE 2.0 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 04/02 PM 3.2 1.2 1.4 1 NONE 05/02 AM 3.5 1.5 1.4 1 NONE 05/02 PM 3.3 1.3 1.5 1 NONE 06/03 AM 3.7 1.7 1.4 1 MINOR 06/03 PM 3.1 1.1 1.3 1 NONE BISHOPS HEAD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.2 FT, MODERATE 3.7 FT, MAJOR 4.2 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.1 FT, MODERATE 1.6 FT, MAJOR 2.1 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 04/11 AM 3.3 1.2 1.2 1-2 NONE 04/11 PM 3.4 1.3 1.1 2 MINOR 05/11 AM 3.4 1.3 1.3 2 MINOR 06/12 AM 3.8 1.7 1.3 1 MODERATE 06/12 PM 3.1 1.0 1.0 1 NONE 07/01 AM 3.5 1.4 0.9 1 MINOR CRISFIELD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 5.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.3 FT, MODERATE 1.8 FT, MAJOR 2.8 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 04/10 AM 3.3 1.1 1.3 1 NONE 04/10 PM 3.2 1.0 1.3 1 NONE 05/11 AM 3.3 1.1 1.3 1 NONE 06/12 AM 3.6 1.4 1.4 1 MINOR 06/11 AM 3.0 0.8 1.2 1 NONE 07/12 AM 3.5 1.3 1.1 1 NONE &&

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va.- Thousands of visitors turned out to watch dozens of ponies make their 93nd annual swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague on Wednesday morning.

The famed Saltwater Cowboys rounded up about 120 ponies living on Assateague for the swim, which got underway at around 8:30 a.m.

The first foal ashore was crowned "King Neptune," and will be given away at a raffle on the carnival grounds.

The other foals will be auctioned off Thursday morning to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department, which takes care of those ponies. Organizers say the auction helps to cut down on the size of the herd and raises money for veterinary services for the ponies throughout the year.

Auction winners receive a certificate saying they have purchased an official Chincoteague pony.

Ponies that go unsold and those that are donated back to the fire department will roam free for another year on Assateague Island.

The annual spectacle was celebrated by Marguerite Henry's 1947 novel "Misty of Chincoteague."

Click here to watch WBOC's footage of Wednesday's pony swim.