Polo, one of the oldest team sports globally, traces its roots back to Persia circa 600 BC. Introduced to the West from India in the 19th century, it gained popularity among the British Army´s officer class.
from Iran to Mongolia, many nations claim to have originated the game of polo. The earliest known records of a similar game date back to circa 600 BC. in Persia, making polo one of the oldest team sports in the world. Persian military prowess took its armies throughout Central Asia, and with them spread their skills and coordination. The game was brought to the West from India during the 19th century when the officer class of the British Army began playing the game.
Polo has changed a lot over the years. It´s now safer, more organized and has more rules compared to its rough past. However, what hasn´t changed is that it´s still seen as a sport for the elite. When you thing of polo, you might imagine high society playing on the lawns at Windsor or wealthy landowners in Argentina. Even though it used to be a game for the rich, nowadays, big international companies often sponsor the high costs of polo, including polo ponies’ maintenance, transporting them (sometimes across countries) and covering expenses for the players.