Polo: The Sport of Kings and How to Experience It in 2026

Polo is the oldest team sport in the world, with origins in Persia dating back over 2,500 years. Today it remains one of the most exclusive sports on earth — combining equestrian skill, tactical intelligence and extraordinary athleticism in a spectacle that draws royalty, billionaires and celebrities to its most prestigious tournaments.

The World’s Most Prestigious Polo Events

Guards Polo Club — Windsor Great Park, England

The home of British polo. Guards Polo Club sits within Windsor Great Park, adjacent to Windsor Castle, and is the largest polo club in Europe. The Royal Windsor Cup — held each June — attracts the finest players in the world and is attended by members of the British Royal Family. The social scene — picnics on the lawn, Pimm’s and strawberries, cars lined up along the boards — is quintessentially English.

Argentine Open — Palermo, Buenos Aires

The most important polo tournament in the world. The Argentine Open at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo, Buenos Aires, is held each November and December and features the world’s highest-handicap players in the most competitive polo environment on earth. Argentina produces the world’s finest polo players — the sport’s equivalent of Brazil in football.

Gold Cup — Cowdray Park, England

Held each July at Cowdray Park in West Sussex, the Gold Cup is one of England’s most important polo tournaments. The grounds of Cowdray Park — with the ruined castle as backdrop — provide one of the most atmospheric settings in the polo calendar.

Cartier Queen’s Cup — Guards Polo Club

Sponsored by Cartier and watched by royalty, the Queen’s Cup is one of the most glamorous events in the British summer social calendar. The final draws thousands of spectators and features the world’s top-ranked teams.

Playing Polo

Learning to play polo requires a commitment to horsemanship before the sport itself. Most polo schools recommend at least one year of riding lessons before introducing the mallet. The cost of maintaining polo ponies — the term used regardless of the animals’ actual height — runs to €30,000–€100,000 per year for a small string of four to six horses.

For those wishing to experience polo without the full commitment of ownership, most polo clubs offer introductory lessons and arena polo — a smaller, faster format played indoors or in a smaller arena — as accessible entry points.

Polo Fashion

Polo has its own distinctive dress codes. Spectators at major tournaments wear smart casual to formal attire — linen suits, summer dresses, Panama hats. The half-time tradition of treading in the divots — replacing the turf thrown up by the ponies’ hooves — is one of polo’s most charming rituals and an opportunity for spectators to mingle on the field of play.

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