On October 26, 1861 the Pony Express ceased operations after only 18 months in existence. For those 18 months, though, it was the most direct line of communication across North America reducing the time to deliver a message between New York and California to a mere 10 days. Because of this efficiency and despite its short tenure, the legacy of the Pony Express lives on 150 years later. Here are 5 amazing facts about the greatest mail service in American history.

1. One of the founders of the Pony Express, Alexander Majors, was a devout Christian who lived a righteous life, and he expected his riders to do the same. As such, he required every Pony Express rider to take the following oath:

   I do hereby swear before the great and living God that during my engagement with Russell, Majors and Waddell, I will under no circumstances use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors, that I will not quarrel or fight with other employees of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful in my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God.

2. The Pony Express was incredible for its ability to overcome logistical obstacles such as treacherous terrain and hostile Indian territory. The reason it was able to guarantee its express delivery times was because the Pony Express employed 120 riders, owned 400 horses, and operated 157 stations at 10 mile intervals. The rider would change horses at each station, which was roughly the distance a horse could travel at a quick pace.
3. The Pony Express trail roughly followed the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Mormon Trail. Its eastern terminus was in St. Joseph, Missouri and its western terminus was in Sacramento, California.
   
4. To deliver a letter via Pony Express cost $5 per letter, a princely sum in 1860. Adjusting for inflation, that's a cost of ~$400 per letter!
5. 
   In 1869, the U.S. Post Office issued a stamp honoring the Pony Express. It was the first U.S. postage stamp to depict a historical event, as opposed to a person.

Unfortunately, the Pony Express was a private enterprise and despite its high delivery prices it lost $200,000 during its existence. Furthermore, the founders were unable to secure a government contract to deliver the mail. Add to that the expansion of the telegraph and the outbreak of the Civil War and it's no wonder that the Pony Express didn't make it.