Hashknife Pony Express Monument

Each January, since 1958, the old west is brought to life as an elite group of riders thunder through Arizona. This event is the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world. Each rider is sworn in as an honorary mail messenger braving weather, terrain and modern-day obstacles to deliver the United States mail.

Beginning in historic Holbrook, the horseback mail route covers over 200 miles from the majestic Mogollon Rim through the wilderness of the Mazatzal range to the desert city of Scottsdale.

The Hashknife outfit has the longest contract with the U.S. Postal Service and annually delivers around 20,000 pieces of first class mail bearing the valued “Via Pony Express” cachet, which is hand-stamped by the riders before the start of each ride.