While we all know polo is a sporty shirt, it’s actually a sporty sport, too. Sometimes called the “Sport of Kings,” polo was created by Persians in the fifth century BC. Played by soldiers, polo was viewed as a way to sharpen instincts and become a more adept fighter. Historically, the game was played with as many as 100 people on each team, resulting in more of a battle scene than a sporting game. Today, the teams consist of only four players each. Polo is a unique sport as it is played while on horseback. Players ride on “polo ponies” around a large grassy field and attempt to score points by hitting a wooden ball into the opposing team’s goal with a long mallet, much like the ones used in croquet. Regarded as one of the most expensive sports to play, polo players need helmets, protective pads, saddles, mallets and their own trained horse. Surprisingly, the sport is still played in over 75 countries around the world by passionate players who are determined to make the sport as famous as the shirt that was designed for it.
