Native American Polo? The Untold Story of Indigenous Horseback Ball Games

Despite being considered one of the oldest team sports in the world, the origins of polo have been widely debated, with the earliest aspects of the game dating back thousands of years. While polo’s exact roots are unknown, it is interesting to observe how various cultures developed horseback ball games throughout history, which later evolved into the modern version of polo we know today.

In a fascinating article by Casper W. Whitney, published as a supplement to Harper's Weekly in 1891, he explores the development of polo in America, touching upon its rich history before the game arrived in the USA via England. Notably, he mentions a horseback ball game played by some Native American tribes during the 1700s and 1800s. He describes the game as "like shinny on horseback" (an informal type of hockey played on ice), with the Native players expertly using a short stick and riding with "a recklessness born of a set purpose to get possession of the ball, no matter what happens."

From Whitney's account, the Native American riders displayed remarkable horsemanship and combat skills, doing whatever it took to gain possession of the ball, including pulling one another from their horses. Whitney suggested that their form of "riding off" would be more appropriately called "riding down," as players often ended up on the ground and would sometimes be "badly damaged," but happy nonetheless. A sketch of Native players, drawn by Frederic Remington based on Whitney’s description of the game, provides insight into the speed, skill, power, brutality, and aggression of their version of the game. Notably, the riders used minimal tack, and no protective gear was required.

The game did not have a fixed number of players—sometimes there were four, sometimes eight—and it appeared to lack formal rules, as Whitney observed that "everything seemed permissible." He recorded these games being played in Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming in the late 1800s, but he did not witness them in the southern territories. However, he did observe ball games on horseback played by the Apache in Arizona. 

While Whitney described the game as a long-standing tradition, there is no clear historical evidence to confirm when or how Native American tribes first began playing it. Tribal oral traditions refer to these games as having been played "since time out of mind," and Whitney suggests that, had the Native players been asked, they would have said they had always played it.

Considering the exceptional equestrian skills of many Plains tribes, it is no surprise that they excelled at and pushed the boundaries of horseback sports. Interestingly, some elements of these Indigenous ball games—such as the use of mallets or sticks, the objective of controlling and striking a ball while riding, and the physical nature of the competition—share similarities with modern polo. However, the Indigenous versions were distinct in terms of their rules (or lack thereof), gameplay intensity, and cultural significance. While they were never a direct precursor to polo as we know it today, their existence highlights the universal appeal of horseback team sports across different civilizations.

Just as there is a deeply ingrained equestrian culture in Argentina, where the history of the gauchos and the favorable natural conditions of the Pampas make it an ideal region for breeding polo horses and producing world-class players, horses also had a profound impact on Indigenous cultures in North America. Their introduction to the Great Plains fundamentally transformed the way of life for many Native tribes.

For over two centuries, horses played a crucial role among Plains tribes for travel, hunting buffalo, and engaging in battle on horseback. Unlike other Indigenous groups, whose economies and traditions were less centered on equestrian culture, Plains tribes became renowned for their exceptional horsemanship. There was fierce competition among Plains Indians for the best hunting and warhorses, and warriors would invest significant time in training and bonding with their mounts to develop trust and agility for combat and hunting.

Our team, Standing Rock, is inspired by the values of Native Americans, and central to our ethos are the Seven Lakota Values, which guide us both on and off the field. We believe that Indigenous ancestors serve as role models for how to live, how to treat nature and animals, and how to show respect for others. Our aim is to follow their example by pushing the limits of tenacious team spirit and unparalleled horsemanship.