History of Polo and the Argentine Tradition

Introduction

Polo is one of the most distinctive equestrian team sporting traditions, with continuous documented practice from ancient Persian origins through the modern global polo circuit. The polo tradition has been shaped by ancient Persian Chovgan tradition, medieval Mughal Indian sagol kangjei tradition (the principal Manipuri polo tradition), traditional Central Asian Buzkashi tradition (the related Central Asian equestrian sporting tradition), British colonial polo tradition (the 19th century British military and colonial polo tradition), and the modern Argentine polo dominance. The modern global polo landscape is anchored by the Federation of International Polo (FIP, founded 1982 at Buenos Aires), the FIP World Polo Championship (held quadrennially since 1987), the Argentine Triple Crown (Hurlingham Open, Tortugas Open, and Palermo Open Argentine Open), the Argentine Polo Association (Asociación Argentina de Polo, the principal Argentine polo sanctioning body), the Hurlingham Polo Association (the principal British polo sanctioning body, founded 1875), the United States Polo Association (the principal American polo sanctioning body, founded 1890), and various national polo federations across approximately 80 polo-playing nations. This article surveys the full history of polo from ancient Persian origins through the modern global polo circuit.

Ancient Persian Chovgan Origins

Polo extends from ancient Persian Chovgan origins. The principal ancient Persian Chovgan tradition (the principal ancient Persian equestrian sporting tradition) extends from approximately 600 BCE in ancient Persian Achaemenid Empire. The principal ancient Persian Chovgan tradition involved the principal ancient Persian Achaemenid Empire military equestrian training and royal entertainment tradition. The continued Persian Chovgan tradition through subsequent centuries has continued. The medieval Persian Chovgan tradition under the Persian Sassanid Empire (224-651 CE) and subsequent Persian Islamic dynasties extended the principal Persian Chovgan tradition. The medieval Persian Chovgan tradition was substantially documented in the principal medieval Persian Shahnameh (the Book of Kings, the principal Persian epic poem by Ferdowsi, completed circa 1010 CE). The continued Persian Chovgan tradition through subsequent centuries has continued. The principal Persian Chovgan tradition was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.

Mughal Indian and Manipuri Tradition

The medieval Mughal Indian polo tradition extends from the principal medieval Persian Chovgan tradition. The principal Mughal Emperor Akbar (1542-1605) extensively promoted polo across the Mughal Indian Empire. The continued Mughal Indian polo tradition through subsequent centuries has continued. The principal Manipuri sagol kangjei polo tradition (the principal Manipuri equestrian polo tradition) extends from the ancient Manipuri kingdom (in Northeast India, present-day Manipur state). The principal Manipuri sagol kangjei polo tradition is the principal traditional Manipuri equestrian sporting tradition, with extensive Manipuri cultural prominence. The continued Manipuri sagol kangjei polo tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Manipuri sagol kangjei polo tradition substantially influenced the principal British colonial polo tradition. The 1859 Silchar Polo Club founding at Cachar (in present-day Assam state, India) by British colonial tea planters extended the principal modern polo tradition. The 1859 Silchar Polo Club founding by Joseph Sherer, Robert Stewart, and other British colonial tea planters established the first modern polo club. The British colonial 1850s-1860s polo adoption from the principal Manipuri sagol kangjei polo tradition extended the principal modern polo tradition.

1875 Hurlingham Polo Association

The 1875 Hurlingham Polo Association codification at London established the principal modern polo codification. The 1875 Hurlingham Polo Association founding established the principal British polo sanctioning body. The 1875 Hurlingham Polo Association codification of the principal modern polo rules established the principal modern polo codification. The principal 1875 Hurlingham Polo Association codification including the principal four-player polo team structure, the principal six-chukker polo match structure, the principal polo field dimensions (approximately 300 yards × 160 yards), and various other principal 1875 Hurlingham Polo Association codification rules. The continued Hurlingham Polo Association tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The 1890 United States Polo Association founding extended the principal American polo sanctioning body. The continued American polo tradition has continued through subsequent decades. Various other principal European, South American, and Asian national polo federations have continued through subsequent decades.

Argentine Polo Dominance

The Argentine polo dominance through subsequent decades has produced extraordinary results. The principal Argentine polo tradition extends from the late 19th century British colonial polo introduction to Argentina. The 1893 Argentine Polo Association founding established the principal Argentine polo sanctioning body. The continued Argentine polo dominance through subsequent decades has continued. The Argentine polo dominance includes the principal Argentine Triple Crown (the principal Argentine polo championship structure including the Hurlingham Open, Tortugas Open, and Palermo Open Argentine Open). The continued Argentine Triple Crown tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Argentine polo handicap system (with the principal polo handicap from -2 goals to 10 goals) was developed in the early 20th century. The principal Argentine polo 10-goal handicap players (the principal elite polo players) include various Argentine polo players. The continued Argentine 10-goal handicap polo player tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Argentine polo cultural prominence has continued through subsequent decades.

Adolfo Cambiaso and Modern Stars

Adolfo Cambiaso (born 1975), the Argentine polo player from Cañuelas, Argentina, established the principal modern polo dominance. Adolfo Cambiaso's multiple-time Argentine Triple Crown victories with La Dolfina (his Argentine polo team) established the principal modern Argentine polo dominance. Adolfo Cambiaso's 10-goal handicap status (the principal Argentine 10-goal handicap polo player across multiple decades) extended the Cambiaso legacy. The continued Adolfo Cambiaso cultural prominence has continued through subsequent decades. The Adolfo Cambiaso subsequent polo horse cloning (with the Adolfo Cambiaso's various polo horse clones produced from his principal Cuartetera mare) extended the Cambiaso legacy. Various other principal modern Argentine 10-goal handicap polo players include Facundo Pieres (multiple-time Argentine Triple Crown winner), Gonzalo Pieres Jr., Nicolás Pieres, Pablo Mac Donough (multiple-time Argentine Triple Crown winner with La Dolfina), David Stirling Jr., Juan Martín Nero, Bartolomé Castagnola, Lucas Monteverde, Pelon Stirling, Polito Pieres, and various other principal modern Argentine 10-goal handicap polo players. The continued modern Argentine polo dominance has continued through subsequent decades.

Polo Technique and Equipment

Modern competitive polo involves the principal polo team of four players per team (with positions including the principal Number 1 forward, Number 2 attacking midfielder, Number 3 attacking midfielder/playmaker, and Number 4 defender/back). The competitive polo field is approximately 300 yards × 160 yards (the principal Hurlingham Polo Association field dimensions). The principal competitive polo equipment includes the polo mallet (the principal polo stick, approximately 49-53 inches long, with a wooden head), the polo ball (the principal polo ball, approximately 3 inches in diameter, made of plastic or wood), the polo helmet, polo boots, polo gloves, and polo saddle. The competitive polo match structure includes the principal six-chukker match (with each chukker approximately 7-7.5 minutes, with a 3-minute interval between chukkers and a longer half-time interval). The principal competitive polo techniques include the principal forehand stroke, backhand stroke, neck stroke, tail stroke, and various other polo techniques. The continued polo equipment manufacturing tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

Argentine Triple Crown

The Argentine Triple Crown (the principal Argentine polo championship structure including the Hurlingham Open, Tortugas Open, and Palermo Open Argentine Open) has continued through subsequent decades. The 1893 first Hurlingham Open at Hurlingham Club, Argentina extended the principal Argentine Triple Crown tradition. The 1933 first Tortugas Open at Tortugas Country Club, Argentina extended the principal Argentine Triple Crown tradition. The 1893 first Palermo Open Argentine Open at Buenos Aires extended the principal Argentine Triple Crown tradition. The continued Argentine Triple Crown tradition has continued through subsequent decades. Principal modern Argentine Triple Crown polo teams include La Dolfina (the principal Argentine polo team led by Adolfo Cambiaso), Ellerstina (the principal Argentine polo team led by the Pieres family), La Aguada (the principal Argentine polo team led by the Castagnola family), and various other principal Argentine polo teams. The continued Argentine Triple Crown tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

FIP World Polo Championship

The 1982 Federation of International Polo (FIP) founding at Buenos Aires established the principal international polo sanctioning body. The 1987 first FIP World Polo Championship at Buenos Aires extended the principal FIP World Polo Championship tradition. The FIP World Polo Championship gold medal was won by Argentina. The continued FIP World Polo Championship quadrennially since 1987 has continued through subsequent decades. The continued FIP national federation expansion has continued through subsequent decades. The FIP currently recognizes approximately 80 national polo federations across the world. Various other principal FIP World Polo Championship winners include Argentina (multiple-time FIP World Polo Championship winner), Brazil, Chile, the United States, and various other principal FIP World Polo Championship winners. The continued FIP World Polo Championship tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The continued international polo tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

Polo Culture and Modern Era

Polo culture extends substantially beyond the competitive polo tradition. The principal Argentine polo cultural tradition (with extensive Argentine polo cultural prominence) has continued through subsequent decades. The principal British, American, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian, Chilean, Indian, Pakistani, and various other principal polo cultural traditions have continued through subsequent decades. The principal polo broadcast tradition through ESPN, Sky Sports, and various other principal polo broadcasters has continued through subsequent decades. The continued polo broadcast development has continued through subsequent decades. The continued polo commercial development has continued through subsequent decades. The polo tradition has continued to be associated with the principal Argentine, British, American, and other principal polo-playing nations' cultural traditions. The principal polo cultural prominence has continued through subsequent decades. The continued polo cultural tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

The Future of Polo, Conclusion, and Sources

The future of polo faces significant questions in the third decade of the twenty-first century. The continued FIP development, FIP World Polo Championship continuation, Argentine Triple Crown continuation, broadcast development, globalization of the polo talent pool, and traditional polo preservation will continue to shape the polo landscape. The continued FIP and national polo federations governance development through subsequent decades will continue to shape the polo tradition. FIP World Polo Championship, Argentine Triple Crown (Hurlingham Open, Tortugas Open, and Palermo Open Argentine Open), United States Polo Association events, Hurlingham Polo Association events, and other principal polo events will continue through subsequent decades. Individual polo figures will continue to shape the polo tradition. The continued careers of Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo Pieres, Pablo Mac Donough, and various other modern polo figures will continue to shape the polo legacy. Yet the basic principle of polo — the fundamental equestrian team sporting tradition that has underpinned the equestrian sporting cultural identity since the ancient Persian Chovgan emergence — has shaped the equestrian sporting cultural tradition for more than 2,600 years and continues to be one of the principal equestrian sporting cultural identity markers. Sources include: Horace A. Laffaye, The Evolution of Polo (McFarland, 2009); Horace A. Laffaye, Polo in Argentina (McFarland, 2014); BBC Sport coverage, bbc.co.uk/sport; FIP archives, fippolo.com; Argentine Polo Association archives, aapolo.com.