Polo History
The game of polo has a rich history
POLO
Polo, originated in Central Asia and was a national sport played extensively by the nobility. It was considered an aristocratic game, played on specially trained horses in a separate field. Women also participated alongside men. Polo has a history of over 2,000 years in Persia and was played in royal courts and urban fields. Some authors even trace its origins back to the 5th century BC or earlier1.
Spread and Influence: Polo spread to other countries, adopting various names. In the Western world, it became known as polo. Englishmen played a significant role in distributing and developing the game globally. Polo, brought from India to England in the 19th century, gained popularity. New rules were added, and it eventually acquired its present name, “polo.” The sport was even included in the program of the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris12.
THE GAME OF POLO
Origin: Polo originated in central asia, with records dating back to the 6th century BC. Initially, it served as a training game for cavalry units, often the king’s guard or elite troops. For the warlike tribesmen, it was akin to a miniature battle, sometimes played with as many as 100 players on each side.
Spread: From Persia, polo spread to Arabia, Tibet (where the word “polo” means “ball”), China, and Japan. In China, Emperor A-pao-chi even ordered the beheading of surviving players after a match. The game reached India in the 13th century through Muslim conquerors.
European Introduction: British tea planters in Assam formed the first European polo club in 1859. The Calcutta Polo Club followed in the early 1860s. British cavalry units stationed in India played informal matches, leading to the sport’s growth in England. By 1875, matches at Richmond Park and Hurlingham attracted over 10,000 spectators.
United States: James Gordon Bennett, a sportsman and newspaper publisher, introduced polo to the United States after witnessing a match in 1876. The sport gained popularity among the military, universities, nobility, and royalty.
- Golden Age: The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked the golden age of polo. Matches were held across Europe, India, and the United States. Famous players like Winston Churchill and Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh contributed to the sport’s allure.
- Olympic Sport: Polo was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1936. The 1936 Berlin Olympics saw the last official appearance of polo, with Argentina winning gold.
- Decline and Revival: After World War II, polo faced challenges due to economic changes, the decline of cavalry units, and the high cost of maintaining horses. However, it experienced a revival in the 1980s, especially in countries like Argentina, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
- Modern Polo: Today, polo remains a prestigious sport played by amateurs and professionals alike. High-goal tournaments attract top players, and the sport continues to evolve, blending tradition with modern facilities and technology.