POLO, an equestrian game, the object of the players being to strike the ball through the opponent's goal; all are mounted on ponies not exceeding 1454 hands and carry mallets about four feet long with which to strike the ball, made of light wood. The grounds are usually 900 feet long by 450 feet wide, level turf, at each end of which are located goal posts 24 feet apart. The proper number of players is four on a side, but a less number can play; combination and interference are important ele ments of success. But little is authentically known of the exact origin of the game, yet legends of the Orient give proof of its an tiquity, and it is generally accepted that the game was played in Persia before the begin ning of the Christian era, and had its origin in northern India. It is a matter of record that a game very similar to it was played by the Emperor Manuel Comnenus about the mid dle of the 12th century. Some authorities claim that the original home of the game was Tibet and that it reached India through Afghanistan. It was known and popular in most of the Himalayan countries. In 1870polo y.-as intro duced in England by army officers who had been stationed there, and about 1885 it was in troduced into the United States. The rules of
the game in England and America differ ma terially, especially in the tendency of the Eng lish game to lessen the freedom of the player in order to increase safety; the game has al ways been popular with the British army officers, who have produced many of the lead ing experts. In America there exists a system of handicapping the players, thus giving the less experienced an equal chance. The demand for suitable ponies has developed the industry in the United States of breeding them through crossing the thoroughbred with the hardy Western ponies. In addition to horsemanship the game requires control of temper, quickness of observation, judgment, nerve and endurance; the United States army has done much to en courage the game at the various army. posts, and introduced it at the West Point Military Academy. The central authority on the game in the United States is the Polo composed of 34 clubs located throughout tne country; it forms the rules, regulates the handi capping and arranges the tournaments, cham pionships and other matches.