What is Pato?
Q: What is Pato?
A: Pato is a game played on horseback that combines ideas from polo and basketball. It is the national sport of Argentina.
Q: What does "Pato" mean in Spanish?
A: "Pato" means "duck" in Spanish.
Q: How long has Pato been around?
A: Pato has been written about since 1610.
Q: How did early versions of Pato differ from modern versions?
A: Early versions of Pato used a live duck inside a basket instead of a ball. The playing field would often go between neighboring ranches, and the first team to reach its own ranch house with the duck was the winner.
Q: Why was Pato banned several times in its history?
A: Pato was banned several times due to violence, including harm to the duck and injuries or deaths of players, such as being trampled underfoot or engaging in knife fights.
Q: When were modern rules added to Pato?
A: Modern rules based on polo were added to Pato during the 1930s by ranch owner Alberto del Castillo Posse.
Q: When did Pato become Argentina's national game?
A: President Juan Perón made Pato Argentina's national game in 1953.
