Since 1980 the National Pony Express Association has conducted a re-run of the famed Pony Express each June. Because of COVID-19 plans for this year’s 40th anniversary re-ride have been cancelled.

This year more than 600 riders and horses had been scheduled to relay commemorative letters in a mochila from Sacramento, Calif., the western terminus of the famed mail route to St Joesph, Mo., the eastern termnus. The route was to retrace the Pony Express National Historic Trail from California, through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas to Missouri. The ride was to require 10 days of around-the-clock riding.

The current plan is to schedule the re-ride for September of 2021.

Those who had purchased letters to be carried on the 2020 re-ride have two options. They may leave the letter purchase as is and the letter will be carried on 2021 re-ride. These letters will have a special handstamp placed on the back of the envelop depicting the delay caused by COVID-19.

Or they may request a refund.

The Pony Express trail crosses the northeastern portion of Nukcolls County. Riders were to exchange the mochila on the main street of Oak, near that community’s Oregon Trail Park..