125th anniversary of the United States Polo Association
Today marks the 125th anniversary of the United States Polo Association, the national governing body of the sport of polo in the United States.
I invite you to join me in celebrating this milestone moment in our history and in thanking all who have contributed to the growing success of the sport at every level.
On June 6, 1890 the Polo Association, now the United States Polo Association, was established in New York City, with seven clubs joining and over 100 handicaps assigned to members, including future President, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, Jr. Today, the USPA includes more than 270 member clubs in 13 geographic circuits around the United States and oversees 40 national tournaments.
We could not have achieved this historic moment without the support of our dedicated USPA members and member clubs. It is your enthusiasm, diligence, and love of the sport that has sustained and grown polo over the decades. Polo has been described as “the sport of kings”; however, it has become increasingly diverse and inclusive. In addition to the fast growth of young polo players, women’s membership in the USPA has increased significantly, and now represents 40% of membership.
Funding made possible by the USPA’s officially licensed consumer brand – U.S. Polo Assn. – is invested annually to support a wide array of services and programs that continue to define and drive the sport forward, particularly in the development of generations of new American polo players. Programs such as the USPA’s Interscholastic and Intercollegiate (I/I) programs have made the sport of polo highly accessible to middle school through college-age students; and, our USPA Certified Umpires programs make polo safer and more enjoyable to play at all levels of completion. Our Team USPA program provides mentoring and playing opportunities to young professionals, several of whom brought great honor to the USPA with a second place finish at the 2015 FIP World Polo Championship.
Today, we can reflect upon the United States Polo Association’s storied past with pride, and confidence in our ability to sustain our legacy to promote and grow the sport of polo.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Rizzo
Chief Executive Officer