C HINCOTEAGUE, Va. (AP) — Thousands of people gathered in Virginia to watch the Chincoteague wild ponies make their annual swim across the Assateague Channel, the 99th year of the popular tradition.

In April of 2024, I took a trip to Assateague Island for my 27th birthday. While most people visit this spot in the summer, I opted to go in the off-season to avoid the crowds. While it was a little ...