On the map, the southeastern coast of South America is spatially dominated by Brazil and Argentina. But, nestled between the two land masses is the country of Uruguay. Historically, Uruguay has been largely overshadowed culturally and economically by its neighbors. However, the country has over five times more land than Holland and more cultivable land than Japan with almost five times fewer inhabitants. Similar to the countries surrounding it, Uruguay has a huge football culture that consistently brings the smaller country to the international stage. Although the country has a smaller population and proportions compared to Brazil and Argentina, like it’s football, polo in Uruguay has shown that the country may be tiny, but it is mighty.
Montevideo
Founded in 1726, the capital city of Montevideo was critical to securing Uruguayan independence. Today, Montevideo handles most of Uruguay’s foreign trade, but is fast becoming an incredible travel destination. Montevideo not only has a long stretch of beaches due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, but is also home to many historic theaters like the Solís Theatre, museums like the National Museum of Fine Arts, and a soccer stadium sized park known as the Batlle y Ordóñez Park. With so many attractions in the capital city, few visitors are aware of its connections to the growing popularity of polo in the country.
Montevideo is the hometown to professional polo players Felipe Viana and Ignacio ‘Nachi’ Viana. Recently, Nachi Viana, alongside his Uruguayan teammates Santiago Stirling, Matias Carrique, and Benicio Laguarda, competed against the USA team in the final match of the National Polo Center’s winter season held on U.S. Polo Assn. Field 1. Nachi was not only the captain of the victorious team, but scored the game winning goal in overtime to secure the win for Uruguay.
Maldonado
Known as the capital city of the Maldonado Department in eastern Uruguay, the city is known as the fourth most populated in Uruguay. However, its populus of over 102 thousand inhabitants comprises many smaller villages like José Ignacio and Punta del Este. Although the small seaside resort town of José Ignacio sits at an estimated population of around 200 citizens, the quiet peninsula is quickly becoming one of Latin America’s most popular beach destinations. Jutting out about two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, the secluded fishing village is a private paradise of beaches filled with the best arts and cuisine the city has to offer. However, expert chefs are not the only famous visitors who frequent Maldonado, as the Santa Cruz Polo Club located in Punta del Este attracts hundreds of professional polo players from across the world every season.
Most recently, the club had the privilege of hosting three days of intense international polo competition between 24 players from 8 different countries in the 122nd edition of the Ambassadors Cup. In addition, the Punta del Este Polo & Country Club was the field that saw team Uruguay earn their place in the XII FIP World Polo Championship for the first time in the country’s history. The team would go on to secure the bronze medal in a 9 to 7.5 victory against Argentina with four goals scored by Uruguay’s Nachi Viana and the award for Best Playing Pony given to Santiago Stirling, also a Uruguay native.
Paysandu
Located in western Uruguay, Paysandu is the third largest city in the country. Similar to Salto, this small city is also essential to trade within Uruguay. Paysandu has a very active port, as all cargo on its way to northwestern Uruguay, which are often items from breweries, meat processing plants, and tanneries, must pass through Paysandu before continuing to their final destinations. Due to its location near the Uruguay river and the natural climate of the city, Paysandu attracts many tourists year round to its hot spring resorts; Guaviyú and Almirón. This city also has its own National History Museum and a famous Beer Week in April that has become one of the most highly celebrated events in the country. In addition to all the city has to offer, near its southern border, the Rio Negro Polo Club is recognized as one of the best polo clubs in Uruguay. The club is a ranked member of the Federation of International Polo, and has welcomed many professional Uruguayan players like Pelon Stirling and Laguarda from Nachi Viana’s winning team.
Written in collaboration with Lily Brennan