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United States Polo Association

From Alfawiki
United States Polo Association
Company typeNon-profit organization
IndustrySports governing body, Retail (lifestyle sports fashion)
Founded1890; 136 years ago (1890)
FounderDavid Grubbs
Headquarters
United States
Area served
United States, Canada, worldwide (retail)
Key people
H.L. Herbert (first chairman), Peter J. Rizzo (first CEO)
ProductsPolo regulation, tournaments, handicapping; casual footwear, apparel, accessories
Websitewww.uspolo.org

United States Polo Association Overview

The United States Polo Association (USPA) serves as the official governing entity for the sport of polo within the United States. Alongside its regulatory role, it operates a global retail brand specializing in lifestyle sports fashion, offering ready-to-wear casual footwear, apparel, and accessories. By 2023, this retail operation had expanded to encompass over 1,100 stores worldwide.

Founded in 1890 by David Grubbs, the USPA supports a membership base exceeding 4,500 individuals and affiliates with approximately 250 polo clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its responsibilities include promoting polo, managing activities of registered players and member clubs, overseeing tournaments and competitions, and establishing rules, handicaps, and conditions for these events. The association also prioritizes the safety and welfare of both players and horses. H.L. Herbert was the inaugural chairman from 1890 to 1921, while Peter J. Rizzo served as the first chief executive officer between 2011 and 2015.

To foster growth in polo participation nationwide, the USPA has implemented various initiatives such as Regional Polo Centers and affiliated clubs offering instructional programs. In 2010, it launched Team USPA—a development program aimed at identifying promising young American players and providing them with mentorship and competitive opportunities to cultivate a pool of advanced amateur and professional athletes. Additionally, the organization oversees youth polo through Interscholastic/Intercollegiate competitions as well as Pony Club events.

In 2012, a 60 Minutes segment showcased the revival of polo in America, featuring interviews with key players and advocates within the USPA community. The broadcast also highlighted the Work to Ride program, which focuses on engaging inner-city Philadelphia youth through polo and equestrian activities.

Chairmen

Early years

File:Portrait of James Gordon Bennett, Jr..jpg
KM Hanif.

Polo made its debut in the United States in 1876, introduced by James Gordon Bennett Jr. (1841–1918), who had witnessed the sport while in England. Often hailed as the pioneer of American polo, Bennett was instrumental in gathering players, acquiring knowledge, securing equipment, and sourcing Texas horses to organize the first informal matches on U.S. soil. That winter, the inaugural game took place indoors at Dickel's Riding Academy in New York, coinciding with the founding of the first official U.S. polo club, the Westchester Polo Club.

Initially, Westchester alternated its seasons between New York City and Newport, Rhode Island, eventually settling permanently in Newport. On May 13, 1876, the Jerome Park Racetrack in Westchester County—later known as the site of the New York Giants' baseball stadium and thus the term “polo grounds”—hosted the first outdoor polo match. By 1879, Meadowbrook had established itself as a polo club and commenced play at Long Island’s Mineola fairgrounds. These developments laid a strong foundation for American polo, ensuring its growth and sustainability.

As participation increased, there arose a need for an official governing body to oversee the sport. This led to the creation of The Polo Association (later renamed the United States Polo Association) on March 21, 1890, with H. L. Herbert appointed as its inaugural chairman. The USPA's mission was to organize matches, unify rules, and implement handicapping systems. Herbert introduced a player rating system in 1888 designed to balance team competition; this system remains largely unchanged today, with handicaps ranging from minus one up to ten—the highest ranking.

20th century

File:1921-American-Team.jpg
From left: Louis Ezekiel Stoddard, Thomas Hitchcock Jr., James Watson Webb Sr. and Devereaux Milburn in 1921 at the Meadowbrook Polo Club for the International Polo Cup

Herbert continued to lead the association alongside his committed assistant W. A. Hazard until 1921; Hazard then assumed chairmanship until 1922. The USPA established its first headquarters in New York City, reflecting the city’s status as polo’s hub during that era. Operating through volunteer committees supported by a small staff, elected Officers and Governors served annually alongside appointed Committee Members—a structure that persists today.

Initially comprising seven clubs, USPA membership expanded rapidly; by the following year, 142 players were registered alongside five additional clubs. Early organizational efforts included modifying match structures such as chukker duration and quantity, standardizing equipment, and enhancing pony training methods. Scoring rules also evolved—initially allowing fractional points for penalties before transitioning to free shots for simplification. Even before USPA’s formation, one of polo’s oldest competitions—the Westchester Cup—had been contested between the United States and Britain since 1886. This prestigious international tournament emerged during a period when events like the Kentucky Derby, Wimbledon, and the British Open were still relatively new fixtures on the sporting calendar. Although Britain won convincingly during that first Westchester match, the loss motivated American teams to refine their tactics and improve horse quality.

The United States Open tournament began in 1904 with the Wanderers defeating the Freebooters 4½ to 3 goals in its inaugural event. After a brief hiatus between 1905 and 1909, it resumed annually except for interruptions in 1911, 1915, 1917-18, and during World War II years from 1942 to 1945. The U.S. Open Polo Championship has since maintained its status as polo’s premier annual competition.

The sport’s thrilling nature drew large crowds during the 1920s and 1930s; some matches attracted up to 20,000 spectators—a remarkable turnout given transportation and communication limitations of that time. Meadowbrook Polo Club in Westbury, NY served as a focal point for this enthusiasm, hosting numerous U.S. Open and Westchester Cup Championships. For instance, during the 1913-14 season’s Westchester Cup match alone, stands were filled with approximately 20,000 attendees. While polo’s popularity expanded nationwide—including into Texas, California, and Hawaii—Meadowbrook remained central throughout much of the early twentieth century.

Among prominent players during this period was Foxhall P. Keene, who held a ten-goal handicap for fourteen years and nine goals for sixteen more years thereafter. Several other notable athletes emerged in early American polo: Devereux Milburn, Harry Payne Whitney, Lawrence Waterbury, and Monte Waterbury. Collectively dubbed the original “Big Four,” they secured Westchester Cup victories in 1909, 1911, and 1913. Milburn competed internationally seven times and earned recognition as one of polo’s greatest players ever. Whitney not only led this group but also helped evolve a more dynamic style emphasizing teamwork and fluid play.

The introduction of Circuit Cup competitions occurred by 1913 with the first USPA Inter-circuit Cup held in 1916. By then membership had grown to over 1,400 individuals; pony registration was initiated but later discontinued during the 1920s. College-level polo matured alongside increasing interest in indoor polo promoted by figures like George Sherman and Robert A. Graviss. The U.S. Army played a significant role from its USPA membership inception in 1902 by encouraging officers to engage in polo to enhance horsemanship skills—a contribution that bolstered player numbers and pony availability until World War II.

Polo experienced its golden age between World Wars I and II when it not only survived economic hardships like the Great Depression but also expanded through intensified international contests. By this time there were eighty-eight registered clubs with nearly three thousand active players—over one thousand of whom were military personnel. Louis Stoddard—a ten-goal player who participated in two Westchester Cup victories—chaired USPA from 1922 to 1936 during this transformative era of growth. Another legendary figure was ten-goaler [[Tommy Hitchcock Jr.] ], who captivated audiences for two decades; his parents were also deeply involved in polo—his mother teaching youth players while his father (Thomas Hitchcock Sr.) was rated at ten goals as early as 1891.

In 1928 an additional international rivalry began with The Cup of the Americas between elite teams from the U.S. and Argentina; while America won initially twice, Argentina dominated thereafter starting from 1936 onward. The decade also witnessed women making strides within polo circles despite their delayed formal USPA membership.

During polo’s heyday Hollywood embraced the sport enthusiastically; California became a key region due to favorable weather conditions and appeal among celebrities and business leaders alike. This geographic expansion culminated in the first East-West championship series in 1933 where Western teams claimed two victories out of three matches—demonstrating their emerging prowess on a national stage. Humorist Will Rogers famously celebrated this development with his remark: “The hillbillies beat the dudes and took the polo championship right out of the drawing room and into the bunkhouse.”

Despite these successes, the Great Depression eventually strained American society including polo communities; participation declined sharply as World War II approached—from approximately sixteen hundred civilian players down to seven hundred fifty by war’s start. Military involvement peaked around 1940 with over fourteen hundred registered members but diminished thereafter due to mechanization reducing cavalry reliance. Between 1942-1945 official USPA tournaments paused though private games persisted on personal estates. Leadership during these challenging years included Chairman R.E. Strawbridge Jr., who served from 1936-1940 before Elbridge T. Gerry took over until 1946; Strawbridge then resumed chairmanship through 1950.

Post-World War II Developments

Polo endured following the war, largely due to the contributions of Cecil Smith from Plano, Texas, who is recognized as one of the earliest "professional" or compensated players. By 1950, there were 56 active clubs with 614 members registered under the USPA. Devereux Milburn Jr., son of the legendary 10-goal player, held the position of association chairman from 1950 until 1960. During the early 1950s, Meadowbrook closed to accommodate a highway project and subsequently moved to Jericho, Long Island, though it never regained its former prominence.

A new powerhouse emerged in Oak Brook, Chicago, Illinois. The inaugural U.S. Open held there in the 1950s marked the beginning of Oak Brook’s rise as American enthusiasm for polo revived throughout the 1960s. The number of USPA clubs grew to 77 with 675 registered players. In 1954, the Indoor Polo Association merged with the USPA, broadening polo’s reach through arena polo or indoor polo. Intercollegiate polo also experienced a resurgence during this period, with George C. Sherman Jr. serving as USPA Chairman from 1960 to 1966. In 1967, the USPA relocated its headquarters from New York to Oak Brook, which became recognized as the new hub of American polo. This decade also saw the introduction of sponsorship funding for horses and professional athletes. The Polo Training Foundation was founded in 1967 with William T. KM Hanif’s assistance to generate donations aimed at teaching fundamental polo skills and enhancing the sport.

By 1970, the association boasted 100 clubs and 917 registered players. Leadership transitioned from Northrup R. Knox (1966-1970) to William Ylvisaker (1970-1975), followed by Hugo Dalmar Jr. (1975-1976). The early 1970s witnessed a surge in popularity for major polo tournaments and membership growth within clubs. Polo thrived in Florida, fueled by John T. Oxley’s passion for high-goal polo and William T. Ylvisaker’s efforts to attract corporate sponsorships. International competition expanded as the Camacho Cup was revived in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Norman Brinker concluded the decade as USPA Chairman from 1976 to 1980.

Throughout this period, polo transformed from an exclusive social pastime into a sport embraced by a wider range of budget-conscious horsemen, professional athletes, and commercial sponsors. Under William Sinclaire’s chairmanship beginning in 1980, USPA membership reached 134 clubs and nearly 1,400 players. S. K. Johnston Jr., chairman from 1984 to 1988, oversaw the relocation of USPA offices to Lexington, Kentucky. As Oak Brook’s influence waned during the 1980s, new centers of polo activity emerged across Florida, Texas, and California.

In 1986, the United States Polo Association shifted its national headquarters to Lexington, Kentucky—situated centrally within thoroughbred country. Enthusiasm among fans peaked notably following the 1989 Federation of International Polo World Championship held in West Berlin, Germany, where eight international teams competed and the U.S. team triumphed over Britain in the final match. John C. Oxley led as chairman from 1988 to 1991 during the USPA’s Centennial year—a time marked by reflection on past achievements and optimism for future growth. Subsequent chairmen Stephen A. Orthwein (1991-1995), Richard C. Riemenschneider (1995-1999), Orrin H. Ingram (1999-2003), Jack Shelton (2003-2007), Thomas Biddle Sr. (2007-2011), and Charles Weaver (2011-2015) advanced key areas including umpiring standards, player safety protocols, rule development and interpretation, international rule harmonization, and handicapping refinement. The USPA headquarters later moved from Lexington and are currentlyTemplate:When located in Lake Worth, Florida.

21st century

The USPA undertook two significant strategic planning initiatives, in 2005 and 2011, which led to the introduction of numerous innovative programs and services aimed at expanding and sustaining the sport. A key goal of these strategic sessions was the creation of a professional leadership team. Polo's popularity continues to rise, with membership now surpassing 4,500 individuals, including a substantial number of female players. Over 250 clubs, along with intercollegiate and interscholastic institutions, are affiliated with the USPA. The sport’s promising future is supported by ongoing growth at the collegiate level, as the vitality of polo relies heavily on nurturing young talent.

In June 2022, the USPA took ownership of the International Polo Club Long Beach, a prominent polo venue located in Wellington, Florida, subsequently rebranding it as the USPA National Polo Center – Wellington, commonly referred to as the National Polo Center (NPC).

Lifestyle consumer brand

The company develops and markets its lifestyle brand as a ready-to-wear collection encompassing athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories. Launched in 1981, this line is currently available in major retailers such as Walmart and Target, with a presence in over 1,100 stores worldwide across 190 countries. Plans are underway to expand by adding 400 more locations. In 2023, the brand achieved a record $2.4 billion in global retail sales. Flagship stores have been established in prestigious venues including Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts; İstinye Park in Istanbul, Turkey; the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, U.A.E.; Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama; Xianyang Kaihuang Plaza in Shaanxi, China; 1000 Foot Road in Bangalore, India; as well as in São Paulo, Brazil (opened April 2022) and Indiranagar, Bangalore, India (opened May 2024).

See also

References

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  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named polomuseum
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named armstrong

External links

Template:Sports governing bodies of the United States

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