The Pony Express Rides Again

The Pony Express rode again in June out of Sacramento, Calif. Yes, that Pony Express.

Though the original Pony Express only delivered U.S. mail for 18 months from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, its legacy has galloped on in the popular imagination. To keep its memory alive, the National Pony Express Association conducts a re-ride along the original route each year, carrying actual U.S. mail. (Rumor has it, those letters may arrive even faster than usual.)

As in the 1800s, letters are being carried inside a mail pouch, with each rider covering between two and five miles before handing off the pouch to the next rider. Each year it takes about 650 riders to complete the 1,966-mile trail.

To see the schedule and follow the ride from Sacramento to St. Joseph, Mo., visit this site. Read more about this year’s ride here.