Editing Polo (section)

== Contemporary sport ==
[[File:Polo 1900.jpg|thumb|left|Polo played as a part of the [[1900 Summer Olympics]]]]

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 now an active sport in 77 countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Polo Today {{!}} Polo Museum|url=https://www.polomuseum.com/sport-polo/polo-today|access-date=15 May 2021|website=www.polomuseum.com|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515092839/https://www.polomuseum.com/sport-polo/polo-today|url-status=live}}</ref> Although [[Polo at the Summer Olympics|its tenure]] as an Olympic sport was limited to 1900–1939, in 1998 the [[International Olympic Committee]] recognised it as a sport with a bona fide international governing body, the [[Federation of International Polo]]. 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.

=== East and Southeast Asia ===
[[File:seagamespolo.jpg|thumb|Indonesia plays against Thailand in [[SEA Games]] Polo 2007|alt=]]
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. The oldest polo club in the modern country of Malaysia is Selangor Polo Club, founded in 1902.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Club|url=http://theroyalselangorpoloclub.com/the-club/|publisher=Royal Selangor Polo Club|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019212143/http://www.theroyalselangorpoloclub.com/the-club/|archive-date=19 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was largely played by royalty and the political and business elite.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Polo in Malaysia|url=http://rmpa.org.my/history/|publisher=Royal Malaysian Polo Association|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323102234/http://rmpa.org.my/history/|archive-date=23 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Polo was played at the [[Polo at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games|2007 Southeast Asian Games]], [[Polo at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games|2017 Southeast Asian Games]] and [[Polo at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games|2019 Southeast Asian Games]]. Nations that competed in the tournament were Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Philippines (2007), Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand (2017) and Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, and Malaysia (2019). The 2007 tournament's gold medal was won by the Malaysian team, followed by Singapore with silver and Thailand with bronze while the 2017 tournament's gold medal was won by Malaysia, followed by Thailand with silver and Brunei with bronze. The 2019 tournament's gold medal was won by Malaysia, followed by the Philippines with silver, and Brunei receiving bronze.<ref>{{cite web |title=Men's water polo: Indonesians win SEA Games gold, break Singapore's 54-year reign |url=https://www.todayonline.com/world/water-polo-indonesia-mens-team-beats-malaysia-ends-singapores-gold-streak-sea-games |website=Today Online |access-date=29 July 2024}}</ref>
The recent resurgence in south-east Asia has resulted in its popularity in cities such as [[Pattaya]], Kuala Lumpur and [[Jakarta]]. In Pattaya alone, there are three active polo clubs: Polo Escape, Siam Polo Park, and the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club. Indonesia has a polo club (Nusantara Polo Club). More recently, Janek Gazecki and Australian professional Jack "Ruki" Baillieu have organised polo matches in parks "around metropolitan Australia, backed by wealthy sponsors."<ref>{{cite news |last=David |first=Ceri |title=Going Polo |newspaper=[[Sunday Herald Sun]] |pages=Sunday magazine supplement (pp. 20–21) |date=23 November 2008}}</ref>

A 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<ref>{{cite web|last=Eimer |first=David |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/3260092/Chinese-tycoon-Xia-Yang-inspired-by-Prince-Charles-to-restore-polo-to-Communist-China.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/3260092/Chinese-tycoon-Xia-Yang-inspired-by-Prince-Charles-to-restore-polo-to-Communist-China.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=25 October 2008 |access-date=25 January 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club in Shanghai, founded in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ndhpolo.com/ |title=NDPpolo.com |publisher=Ndhpolo.com |access-date=25 January 2012 |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205111454/http://www.ndhpolo.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== West Asia ===

Polo is not widely spread in West Asia, but still counts five active clubs in Iran, four active polo clubs in the [[Polo in the United Arab Emirates|UAE]], one club in Bahrain<ref name="countryclubbahrain">{{cite web|url=http://www.countryclubbahrain.com/|title=The Country Club, Bahrain|publisher=countryclubbahrain.com|access-date=28 July 2016|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024543/http://www.countryclubbahrain.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> and The Royal Jordanian Polo Club in [[Amman]], Jordan.<ref name="RJPC">{{cite web|url=http://sites.google.com/site/lifeinjordan/fitness/polo|title=Polo & Riding – Life in Jordan &#124; The Royal Jordanian Polo Club|access-date=28 July 2016|archive-date=4 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104192708/https://sites.google.com/site/lifeinjordan/fitness/polo|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Polo in Iran is governed by the Polo Federation of Iran. There are five polo clubs in Iran: Ghasr-e Firoozeh, Nowroozabad, Army Ground Forces, Kanoon-e Chogan and Nesf-e Jahan. Iran possesses some of the best grass polo fields in the region. The country currently has over 100 registered players of which approximately 15% are women. Historically, Kurdish and Persian Arabian horses were the most widely used for polo. This was probably also the case in ancient times. Today Thoroughbreds are being increasingly used alongside the Kurdish and Persian Arabian horses. Some players have also been experimenting with Anglo-Arabians. Iranians still refer to the game of polo by its original Persian name of "Chogan", which means mallet. Iranians still maintain some of the ancient rituals of the game in official polo matches.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

=== India ===
The world's oldest polo club is the [[Calcutta Polo Club]] in [[Kolkata]], founded in the 19th century. It hosts the [[Ezra Cup]], the oldest polo tournament.

The governing body of [[polo in India]] is the [[Indian Polo Association]].

=== Ireland ===
Polo first began its Irish history in 1870 with the first official game played on Gormanstown Strand, Co. Meath. Three years later the All Ireland Polo Club was founded by Mr. Horace Rochford in the [[Phoenix Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allirelandpoloclub.com/index.html |title=All Ireland Polo Club news|access-date=26 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707113715/http://www.allirelandpoloclub.com/index.html |archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref> Since then the sport has continued to grow with a further seven clubs opening around the country. The sport has also been made more accessible to these clubs by the creation of more affordable training programmes, such as the beginner to pro programme at Polo Wicklow.<ref name="polowicklow">{{cite web|url=http://www.polowicklow.com/home.aspx|title=Polo Wicklow – Index – Polo in Ireland – Polo Wicklow|publisher=polowicklow.com|access-date=28 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630071109/http://www.polowicklow.com/home.aspx|archive-date=30 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Pakistan ===
The annual [[Shandur Polo Festival]] at [[Shandur Top]] in [[Chitral District]] is an international event attended by enthusiasts from all over the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6901691.stm|title=Polo match draws all the performers|date=18 July 2007|work=BBC News|access-date=17 June 2019|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617065408/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6901691.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Shandur polo ground at [[Shandur Pass]] is the world's highest, at approximately {{convert|3734|m}}.<ref name="tourism">{{cite web|url=http://www.tourism.gov.pk/shandoor_polo_festival.htm|title=Pakistan Tourism Department notice|publisher=tourism.gov.pk|access-date=28 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231035758/http://www.tourism.gov.pk/shandoor_polo_festival.htm|archive-date=31 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The governing body of [[polo in Pakistan]] is the [[Pakistan Polo Association]]. There are more than twenty-one polo clubs in Pakistan<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polomagazine.com.au/polo-clubs-by-region/222-asia/829-zaafir-lone|title=Polo Clubs in Pakistan|access-date=14 September 2022|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914060821/http://www.polomagazine.com.au/polo-clubs-by-region/222-asia/829-zaafir-lone|url-status=live}}</ref> and over forty polo championships held all over the country every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sports.gov.pk/Detail/NTQ2NmIyNzItZTkxNC00MDJmLWI0MDItYjA0MWNkYTMyMzg2|title=Sports Calendar 2021-22 (POLO)|access-date=14 September 2022|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914060824/http://www.sports.gov.pk/Detail/NTQ2NmIyNzItZTkxNC00MDJmLWI0MDItYjA0MWNkYTMyMzg2|url-status=live}}</ref> Pakistan has qualified for the preliminary rounds of the [[World Polo Championship]] three times. Pakistan's [[Hissam Ali Haider]] is the highest capped played in the Asian circuit. He has played for [[Cartier (jeweler)|Cartier]] in the St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup and the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] team in the Royal Salute Coronation Cup, both of which were won by his team.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Click Polo |url=https://www.clickpoloasia.com/post/hissam-ali-hyder |title={{'}}The level of polo I have already played far exceeds any dreams I had when I started out' [Interview] |access-date=14 September 2022 |date=27 February 2021 |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005143754/https://www.clickpoloasia.com/post/hissam-ali-hyder |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
The governing body in the United Kingdom is the [[Hurlingham Polo Association]], dating from 1875, which amalgamated with the County Polo Association in 1949.<ref>{{cite web|title=HPA History|url=https://hpa-polo.co.uk/the-association/hpa-archive/hpa-history/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142032/https://hpa-polo.co.uk/the-association/hpa-archive/hpa-history/|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2021|access-date=2 June 2020|website=Hurlingham Polo Association|language=en-GB}}</ref> The UK Armed Forces Polo Association oversees the sport in the three armed services.

=== United States ===
The [[United States Polo Association]] (USPA) is the governing body for polo in the U.S. The U.S. is the only country that has separate women's polo, run by the [[United States Women's Polo Federation]].