Among the many cultural treasures of Argentina — from tango music to gaucho traditions — there’s one unique and action-packed sport that captures the country’s spirit like no other: Pato. Recognized as Argentina’s national sport, Pato is a dynamic blend of polo and basketball, played at high speed on horseback across vast open fields.
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| Pato: The Thrilling National Sport of Argentina |
Pato: The Thrilling National Sport of Argentina
For the uninitiated, the word Pato means “duck” in Spanish. Historically, the game was played using a live duck in a basket, but thankfully, modern Pato swapped the bird for a specially designed ball — making it safer for both animals and riders.
The Objective
The objective of Pato is straightforward: score more goals than the opposing team by throwing the Pato — a ball with six leather handles — through a vertical ring-shaped goal. Each goal is a one-meter diameter hoop suspended 2.4 meters above the ground. The goals stand at either end of a large rectangular grass field, which can stretch up to 220 meters long and 90 meters wide, with safety run-off areas on each side to accommodate the speed and agility of the horses.
The Teams and Players
Pato is contested between two teams, each consisting of four mounted players, often affectionately called gauchos, echoing Argentina’s legendary horsemen. Players must remain in contact with both their stirrups and the reins at all times — a rule that ensures balance, control, and safety for both rider and horse.
Each player wears white riding breeches, a helmet, and a jersey marked with a number from one to four, indicating their position on the team. To maintain fairness and horse welfare, teams can substitute players or horses during a match, though the game clock keeps ticking.
The Ball and How It’s Played
The modern Pato ball is about the size of a standard soccer ball but is surrounded by six sturdy leather handles. These handles make it possible for players to grab the ball while riding at full gallop.
The aim is to seize the Pato, charge towards the opposing team’s goal, and hurl it through the hoop to score. Passing is a key part of the strategy, and players can pass the Pato to teammates to keep the play fluid and evade defenders.
One crucial detail: the Pato must always be played with the rider’s right hand. Players may catch the Pato with their left hand if needed but must immediately switch it to their right, as the left hand must stay on the reins to guide the horse.
The Cinchada: Pato’s Signature Struggle
The game’s most iconic moment happens when two riders grab the Pato simultaneously. This physical contest is called the Cinchada — or “tussle.” During a Cinchada, both players stand high in their stirrups and use their strength, leverage, and horse positioning to wrestle the Pato from each other’s grip.
The rules require the player holding the Pato to extend their arm outward from their body, making it possible for opponents to attempt a fair grab. Concealing the Pato — known as a Negada — is strictly prohibited and results in forfeiting the ball to the other team.
If a Cinchada lasts more than 10 seconds without resolution, the referee awards the Pato to the challenging player — not the original holder — to keep the game moving.
Rules of Play and Flow of the Game
A standard game of Pato is divided into six periods, each lasting eight minutes, with four-minute breaks between them. At the final whistle, the team with the higher score wins. If the game ends in a tie and a winner must be determined, play continues until one team scores a decisive goal.
Players must remain in motion when playing or attempting to pick up the Pato. Being stationary while playing is considered a foul, primarily for safety reasons. Riding directly into an opponent or crossing another player’s right of way — the imaginary lane in which a player is moving with the Pato — is also prohibited and will draw a penalty.
If the Pato leaves the field of play, whether dropped, thrown, or kicked out by a horse, the non-offending team is awarded a throw-in from the point where it exited. If the Pato goes out of bounds during a Cinchada, the team that initiated the challenge gains possession.
Penalties and Fouls
Minor fouls result in the Pato being handed over to the opposing team. More severe infractions, however, may lead to a penalty shot: the fouled team takes an uncontested attempt at goal from five meters out. Any points scored during these penalty shots count towards the final score, adding extra weight to playing cleanly and within the spirit of the game.
Pato’s International Cousin: Horseball
Outside Argentina, a similar sport called Horseball has developed, especially in Europe. Horseball’s rules closely mirror those of Pato, with a few tweaks: the ball must be passed among at least three different players before a goal attempt can be made, and no single player can hold the ball for longer than ten seconds. These rules ensure rapid, cooperative play and make Horseball an accessible cousin to Argentina’s beloved national sport.
A National Treasure
Pato is more than just a sport — it’s a living embodiment of Argentine history and rural tradition, showcasing horsemanship, teamwork, and the rugged spirit of the gaucho. Though it’s less known internationally than polo, watching a Pato match is a thrilling experience, full of speed, skill, and raw competition that leaves spectators on the edge of their seats.
So next time you find yourself in Argentina or see a highlight reel online, take a moment to appreciate Pato — a game where horse and rider move as one, galloping towards glory with the wind in their hair and a Pato in hand.