Thousands watch Chincoteague wild ponies complete 99th annual swim in Virginia

CHINCOTEAGUE, 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.

The ponies made the short swim across the channel Wednesday as the crowd erupted in cheers. Foal No. 6 was crowned “Queen Neptune," the title given each year to the first to complete the swim, according to WAVY-TV.

The horses were made famous in the 1947 classic children’s novel “Misty of Chincoteague” by author Marguerite Henry.

“Saltwater Cowboys” on horseback round up the ponies, who then swim the channel and come ashore on the east side of Chincoteague Island. The event hosted by the Chincoteague Fire Department includes an auction of some of the foals are sold to help control the size of the herd and help maintain a healthy pony population on Assateague, where the ponies live most of the year. The auction is also the biggest annual fundraiser for the fire department, which manages the wild pony herd.

The tradition began in 1925 as a way to raise money for Chincoteague's volunteer fire company. Interest in the pony swim grew and visitors began coming from across the country for the annual event. “Misty of Chincoteague” made the event famous around the world.

Catherine Ward, owner of One Acre Farms, a functioning educational farm to help special needs kids, feeds her flaxen welsh pony named "Honey" Friday, July 12, 2024, in Porter, Texas. Ward has been without power since hurricane Beryl passed through and is running the farm on a large portable generator, mainly used to keep the water well functioning for all the livestock. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

This photo taken from video provided by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, shows horseback riders corral the herd of ponies during Chincoteague's 99th Pony Swim in Chincoteague, Va., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce via AP)

This photo taken from video provided by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, shows ponies arriving on shore during Chincoteague's 99th Pony Swim in Chincoteague, Va., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce via AP)

This photo taken from video provided by Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, shows ponies arriving on shore during Chincoteague's 99th Pony Swim in Chincoteague, Va., Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce via AP)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government has revoked permission for Brazil to serve as custodian of Argentina's diplomatic missions in the country, alleging several anti-government opponents holed up for months in the Argentine ambassador's residence had been plotting terrorist acts from the compound.

In a statement Saturday, Venezuela's foreign ministry said it had notified Brazil of its decision, which will take effect immediately. It said it was forced to take action based on what it called evidence — which it hasn't shared — that those who sought refuge in Argentina's diplomatic mission were plotting.

Magalli Meda, the former campaign chief of opposition leader María Corina Machado, was among a half dozen government opponents who fled to the Argentina ambassador’s residence after Maduro’s chief prosecutor in March issued an order for her arrest for allegedly propagating destabilizing, political violence.

In retaliation, Maduro broke off diplomatic relations with Argentine President Javier Milei’s right-wing government, which tapped neighbor Brazil to represent its interests and safeguard the asylum seekers.

There was no immediate response from Argentina or Brazil.

Since Friday, armored vehicles from the SEBIN political police have been parked outside the Argentina ambassador’s residence in a leafy Caracas neighborhood. Electricity to the diplomatic mission was also cut, according to Meda, who has taken to social media to denounce what she fears is an impending raid to arrest her and the other government opponents.

Police guard Argentina's embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)