The National Pony Express Association has rescheduled it annual re-ride in light of a fast-spreading horse virus that's shown up in nine Western states.
"Due to the outbreak of the equine herpes virus the annual ride will now take place in August," NPEA Nevada Division president Gary Nezos said in a written statement.
"It was decided to err on the side of caution in rescheduling this event."
The outbreak of the equine herpes virus, which is highly contagious among horses, started at an Ogden, Utah, horse show earlier this month.
There are now 75 confirmed cases of the virus in the nine states and horses at 61 facilities are suspected of being infected, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. A week ago, there were 34 confirmed cases and 9 horses had died, while 46 facilities were impacted.
The mail will now leave St. Joseph, Mo., at 10 a.m. CDT on Aug. 17 and is scheduled to arrive at the Nevada border at 11:30 a.m. PDT Aug. 23.
Those who have purchased letters to be delivered by the Pony Express, will now have them delivered in August, Nezos said.
The National Pony Express Association is an all-volunteer, non-profit historical organization for the purpose of identifying, reestablishing and marking the original pony express trail through the eight states it served: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
The group has organized re-rides since 1978.
