Argentina Polo
More Of An Art Form Than A Sport

Argentina polo is a national obsession.  It doesn't surprise me that the Argentinians have improved upon one of the world's oldest sports to the point where they are now among the premiere polo players in the world.

Brought to Argentina by English ranchers, the game of polo was quickly adapted by the Gauchos.  A game called pato had been played in Argentina since the 1600's.  It was played on horseback and enabled the Gauchos to develop good eye and hand coordination, a necessary skill for polo.  The first official polo match took place in Argentina in 1875 between English and Irish ranchers.  Today, Argentina has risen to the top of the polo world.   Young Argentine boys grow up learning to ride horses, and consequently become great polo players.

Every year in December over 30,000 polo fans descend upon Buenos Aires for the Argentine Open, the world's most prestigious polo tournament.  In addition to breeding the best polo ponies in the world, the Argentinians take polo very seriously, and it shows.  Argentina has won three polo World Championships -- 1987 in Argentina, 1992 in Chile, 1998 in the United States.  Argentina also has the distinction of the most goals at the World Championships -- 35 during the final matches, to name a few!  Heriberto "Pepe" Duggan is considered the best Argentina polo rider in history and was named best player in 1942.  Today, 27-year-old Adolfo Cambiaso is Argentina's polo superstar.

If you're interested in learning the game of polo in Argentina, visit Polo Connection where you can stay at a beautiful estancia outside of Buenos Aires and be taught by experts in the field.  Or you can just go to observe the art of polo and relax!  Perhaps it's easier for polo to come to you! Argentina Polo will even ship you a polo pony among other things, if you're so inclined!

Still haven't found just the right Argentina polo pony?  Keep searching!