Polo's Rich History & Fascinating Facts Revealed

Polo isn’t just a glamorous sport played by royals and the elite—it’s a game with ancient roots, global reach, and fascinating quirks. Known as the “Sport of Kings,” polo has traveled from ancient Persia to the world stage, shaping cultures and creating legends along the way. From cavalry training to Olympic appearances, polo remains one of the most unique and enduring sports in history.

Origins & History

Polo originated over 2,000 years ago in Persia (modern-day Iran). It was first played as a training game for cavalry units, especially the king’s guards.

The word “polo” is derived from the Tibetan word “pulu”, meaning “ball.”

The game spread across Asia, notably to India, where British officers encountered it in the 19th century and brought it back to England.

The Game

• Polo is played on horseback, often called the “Sport of Kings” due to its aristocratic history.

• Each team usually has four players.

• The objective is to score goals by hitting a small ball into the opposing team’s goal using a long-handled mallet.

• A standard polo match is divided into chukkas (periods), each lasting 7 minutes. A full game typically has 4–8 chukkas.

Horses

• Polo horses, often called “ponies” (though they are full-sized horses), are typically Thoroughbreds or Thoroughbred crosses.

• Players usually switch horses after each chukka to avoid fatigue, meaning top players may need 6–8 horses per match.

• Training a polo pony can take several years, as they must be agile, fast, and responsive.

Global Reach

• Polo is now played in over 80 countries.

• Argentina is considered the modern capital of polo, producing many of the world’s best players and ponies.

• Other strong polo nations include the UK, USA, Pakistan, India, and the UAE.

Fun & Unique Facts

• Polo was once an Olympic sport, featured between 1900 and 1936.

• The Guinness World Record for the highest polo match was set in 2019 in Ladakh, India, at 14,000 feet above sea level.

• Polo is one of the few team sports where men and women compete on equal terms.

• The oldest polo club is the Calcutta Polo Club, founded in 1862 in India.

Top 10 Weirdest Polo Facts

When people think of polo, they picture royalty in crisp whites, galloping horses, and champagne on the sidelines. But behind its glamorous image, polo has a wild and eccentric history—from Mongols using enemy heads as balls to modern-day snow matches on frozen lakes. Here are the 10 weirdest facts about polo you probably didn’t know:

1. Polo on Camels 
Forget horses—Dubai and Rajasthan host polo matches on camels. It’s slower, wobblier, and hilarious to watch.

2. Polo on Elephants 
Once popular in Thailand and Nepal, elephant polo featured luxury sponsors like Cartier before being banned over animal rights concerns.

3. Bicycle Polo at the Olympics 
Invented in Ireland in 1891, bicycle polo was actually a demonstration sport at the 1908 London Olympics.

4. Snow Polo on Frozen Lakes 
In St. Moritz, players hit a bright red ball across frozen lakes—polo, but with ski jackets and champagne.

5. Cavalry on the Field 
Ancient Persian kings played polo with teams of up to 100 players per side, basically war drills on horseback.

6. Mongol “Polo” with Heads 
Legend says Genghis Khan’s warriors sometimes used the heads of enemies as polo balls. Brutal, but true to Mongol style.

7. Ponies That Aren’t Ponies 
Despite the name, polo “ponies” are full-sized horses, mostly Thoroughbreds—fast, agile, and definitely not small.

8. Left-Handers Not Allowed 
For safety reasons, left-handed polo is banned. Even natural lefties must play right-handed.

9. Polo at 14,000 Feet 
The world’s highest polo match was played in Ladakh, India—on a mountain plateau where breathing is harder than scoring.

10. Argentina Rules the World 
Argentine players and ponies dominate the sport so much there’s a saying: “If you want to win, hire an Argentine. If you want to dominate, buy an Argentine horse.”