22 Facts About Polo

Polo is a ball game played on horseback, a traditional field sport and one of the world's oldest known team sports.

Polo has been called "the sport of kings", and has become a spectator sport for equestrians and high society, often supported by sponsorship.

Polo sticks were featured as one of the suits on the Mamluk precursor to modern-day playing cards.

Polo likely travelled via the Silk Road to China where it was popular in the Tang dynasty capital of Chang'an, and played by women, who wore male dress to do so; many Tang dynasty tomb figures of female players survive.

In 1862, the oldest polo club still in existence, Calcutta Polo Club, was established by two British soldiers, Sherer and Captain Robert Stewart.

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In 1892 The River Plate Polo Association was founded and constituted the basis for the current Asociacion Argentina de Polo.

Polo has found popularity throughout the rest of the Americas, including Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and the United States of America.

Polo gloves are commonly worn to protect from working the reins and mallet.

Polo saddles are English-style, close contact, similar to jumping saddles; although most polo saddles lack a flap under the billets.

Polo is ridden with double reins for greater accuracy of signals.

Polo is played professionally in many countries, notably Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Iran, India, New Zealand, Mexico, Pakistan, Jamaica, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and is an active sport in 77 countries.

The World Polo Championship is held every three years by the Federation.

Polo is unique among team sports in that amateur players, often the team patrons, routinely hire and play alongside the sport's top professionals.

Polo has been played in Malaysia and Singapore, both of which are former British colonies, since being introduced to Malaya during the late 19th century.

Royal Johor Polo Club was formed in 1884 and Singapore Polo Club was formed in 1886.

Polo was played at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, 2017 Southeast Asian Games and 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Chinese Equestrian Association has been formed with two new clubs in China itself: the Beijing Sunny Time Polo Club, founded by Xia Yang in 2004 and the Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club in Shanghai, founded in 2005.

Polo was invented in ancient Iran, which spanned the modern day regions of Iran, Afghanistan, and Northern Pakistan.

Polo has played for Cartier in the St Moritz Snow Polo World Cup and the Commonwealth team in the Royal Salute Coronation Cup, both of which were won by his team.

Polo first began its Irish history in 1870 with the first official game played on Gormanstown Strand, Co.

Three years later the All Ireland Polo Club was founded by Mr Horace Rochford in the Phoenix Park.

The UK Armed Forces Polo Association oversees the sport in the three armed services.