FREE AT HEART: Wild ponies were herded into the Assateague Channel for an annual swim from Assateague Island, which is located in Virginia and Maryland, to Chincoteague, Va., Wednesday. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company auctions off some of the ponies each year.  FREE AT HEART: Wild ponies were herded into the Assateague Channel for an annual swim from Assateague Island, which is located in Virginia and Maryland, to Chincoteague, Va., Wednesday. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company auctions off some of the ponies each year.  RELIGIOUS GUIDES? Villagers prepared to catch offerings thrown by worshipers near the Mount Bromo volcano crater during Yadnya Kasada celebrations in East Java, Indonesia, Wednesday. During the festival, the Tenggerese people throw offerings in the crater for the gods.  RELIGIOUS GUIDES? Villagers prepared to catch offerings thrown by worshipers near the Mount Bromo volcano crater during Yadnya Kasada celebrations in East Java, Indonesia, Wednesday. During the festival, the Tenggerese people throw offerings in the crater for the gods.  LAID-BACK: American Robert Garrigus, who was feeling ill, took a break on the green during the Canadian Open golf tournament at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, Wednesday.  LAID-BACK: American Robert Garrigus, who was feeling ill, took a break on the green during the Canadian Open golf tournament at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, Wednesday.  CALM WATERS: Russia's Svetlana Romashina competed in a swimming solo final at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Barcelona Wednesday.  CALM WATERS: Russia's Svetlana Romashina competed in a swimming solo final at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Barcelona Wednesday.  PROUD POPE: Pope Francis showed off the statue of the Madonna of Aparecida, whom Catholics venerate as the patroness of Brazil, in Aparecida, Brazil, Wednesday. This is the pontiff's first official papal trip outside of Italy.  PROUD POPE: Pope Francis showed off the statue of the Madonna of Aparecida, whom Catholics venerate as the patroness of Brazil, in Aparecida, Brazil, Wednesday. This is the pontiff's first official papal trip outside of Italy.  STANDING ROOM: People lined up outside a courthouse Wednesday to try to get into a bankruptcy hearing for the city of Detroit. A federal judge on Wednesday stopped any lawsuits challenging the city's bankruptcy, which is the largest by a local U.S. government body in history.  STANDING ROOM: People lined up outside a courthouse Wednesday to try to get into a bankruptcy hearing for the city of Detroit. A federal judge on Wednesday stopped any lawsuits challenging the city's bankruptcy, which is the largest by a local U.S. government body in history.  SECURED: Security staff secured at area in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport Wednesday. Former U.S. National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden, who is accused of leaking information, was awaiting paperwork that would allow him to leave the airport—but not Russia—as he seeks asylum.  SECURED: Security staff secured at area in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport Wednesday. Former U.S. National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden, who is accused of leaking information, was awaiting paperwork that would allow him to leave the airport—but not Russia—as he seeks asylum.  DETOUR: Laborers who work nearby took a nap on a road as cars drove past in Chongqing, Sichuan province, China, Tuesday.  DETOUR: Laborers who work nearby took a nap on a road as cars drove past in Chongqing, Sichuan province, China, Tuesday.  INCONSOLABLE: A woman, whose relative was killed when an earthquake struck Minixian County, Gansu province, China, Monday, cried. The death toll was close to 100 on Tuesday.  INCONSOLABLE: A woman, whose relative was killed when an earthquake struck Minixian County, Gansu province, China, Monday, cried. The death toll was close to 100 on Tuesday.  IN PAIN: Injured bystanders received medical treatment after a car bombing that targeted a Somali lawmaker at a market in Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday. Authorities said at least one person was killed.  IN PAIN: Injured bystanders received medical treatment after a car bombing that targeted a Somali lawmaker at a market in Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday. Authorities said at least one person was killed.  SMOLDERING: A man tried to retrieve items from the rubble of a smoldering home after a fire broke out in a slum area in Pasay, in metropolitan Manila, Philippines, Wednesday. Fire officials said about 250 houses were gutted; the cause of the fire is under investigation.  SMOLDERING: A man tried to retrieve items from the rubble of a smoldering home after a fire broke out in a slum area in Pasay, in metropolitan Manila, Philippines, Wednesday. Fire officials said about 250 houses were gutted; the cause of the fire is under investigation.  ALL SMILES: Schoolgirls waved as they returned home on the back of a rickshaw in New Delhi Wednesday.  ALL SMILES: Schoolgirls waved as they returned home on the back of a rickshaw in New Delhi Wednesday.  CLEAN SWEEP: An employee swept the top of a replica airplane at Joint Base Andrews, the home of Air Force One, in Prince George's County, Md., Wednesday.  CLEAN SWEEP: An employee swept the top of a replica airplane at Joint Base Andrews, the home of Air Force One, in Prince George's County, Md., Wednesday.  IN THE MIDDLE: Protesters clashed with police officers Tuesday in front of Parliament in Sofia, Bulgaria, amid a protest against the left-leaning government. The next day, police disbanded the protesters and escorted out more than 100 lawmakers who had been trapped inside.  IN THE MIDDLE: Protesters clashed with police officers Tuesday in front of Parliament in Sofia, Bulgaria, amid a protest against the left-leaning government. The next day, police disbanded the protesters and escorted out more than 100 lawmakers who had been trapped inside.
In today's pictures, wild ponies swim to shore in Virginia, villagers intercept offerings to the gods in Indonesia, lawmakers are rescued amid protests in Bulgaria, and more.