HISTORY, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & MILITARY

Polo is the world’s oldest recorded team sport, born in ancient Persia more than 2,500 years ago.
It began as a cavalry training exercise for kings’ elite guards—massive contests that could involve 100 riders per side.

As mounted armies conquered empires across Asia, polo became the noble pastime of Persian, Arab, Mughal, Mongol, and Chinese rulers—a symbol of honor, grace, and command.

In 1862, British officers in South Asia revived the game after witnessing a local horsemanship exhibition.
By 1869, polo reached England, and in 1876, James Gordon Bennett introduced it to the United States—where it quickly captured the hearts of soldiers, diplomats, and sportsmen alike.

After World War I, the U.S. Army formally embraced polo for its unmatched value in developing
physical fitness, teamwork, composure, and combat readiness.

The Army’s Remount Program—anchored by the nation’s largest remount station in Front Royal, Virginia—built indoor armories and training grounds across America.
There, generations of cavalry officers learned strategy on horseback before leading troops in the field.

By the early 1920s, polo and politics were a perfect Washington pairing.
Army officers from Fort Myer galloped across the National Mall, reviving the proud International Polo Cup tradition.   In 1921, the War Department hosted its first Military Polo Ball, merging sport, military, and society in true Washington style.

President and Mrs. Warren Harding became the first White House tenants to attend a polo match on the Mall—ushering in America’s first International Polo Match against Cuba.
The second game featured Camp Humphreys, now known as Fort Belvoir.

By 1923, polo had expanded to 52 military bases nationwide.
Officers who demonstrated calm judgment and tactical thinking on the field often rose quickly in command; polo became the only sport used to evaluate leadership potential in the U.S. Armed Forces.

During the 1930s, the Annual Military Polo Ball, hosted each May by the Vice President of the United States, was a highlight of Washington’s social season.
General Douglas MacArthur was a frequent guest of honor.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Marine Corps, through its Quantico training rotations, brought polo deeper into Virginia.
The Marines’ stunning victory over the Army’s “War Department Blues” became a local legend.
By 1938, both Quantico and the U.S. Marine Barracks in D.C. fielded official military teams.

Military academies abroad still use polo to sharpen leadership and strategic discipline.
One of the most prestigious fixtures is the Army vs. Navy Polo Match at Sandhurst, U.K., drawing thousands of spectators and global attention.

Before World War II, polo enjoyed Olympic status, thrilling crowds of over 50,000.
When war came, horses returned to service, and polo was removed from the Games—a pause that endures today.

Since President Harding’s patronage in 1921, nearly every U.S. President has been an Honorary Patron of the International Polo games—affirming polo’s place as a bridge between nations.

These events honor military sportsmanship, patriotism, and goodwill, using the grace of horse and rider to strengthen international bonds.

Today, the International Polo Tour® (IPT) continues this heritage as the world’s only International Invitational Polo Series, broadcast globally to celebrate diplomacy through sport.

During America’s 400th Anniversary of Jamestown, the U.S. International Polo Team—
captained by Tareq Salahi—played a historic farewell match with His Royal Highness Prince Charles at the Cirencester Polo Club in England.
The game ended in a 1–1 tie, marking Prince Charles’s retirement from competitive polo and strengthening international polo diplomacy.

In addition, to year-round polo events, the International Polo Tour® also unites nations in friendship and competition.  From various cities in the USA to South Africa, Thailand, Australia, throughout Europe and countless countries across the globe; IPT’s matches revive the timeless spirit of honor, cultural exchange, and global camaraderie.

Polo endures as a living symbol of heritage, unity, and international respect—a sport where diplomacy and horsemanship ride side by side.