The origins of polo can be traced back to the first millennium BC. The Moguls were largely responsible for taking the game from Persia to the East, and by the 16th Century polo was established in India.

Polo reached England in the late 19th Century, and soon afterwards other European countries, Souther America, and The United States. By the early 20th Century polo became firmly established as an international sport and it is now played in more than 70 countries around the world.

In Portugal it was a favourite sport among military personnel based at Cascais, 20 min from Lisbon, during the Twenties and Thirties. However, polo as the sport is generally known today was formally introduced to Portugal in Quinta da Marinha, Cascais, in 1991, before reaching Herdade do Zambujeiro, now home to the country’s only polo club at La Varzea, four years later.

Today, the oldest diplomatic alliance in history, The Treaty of Windsor signed between Portugal and England in 1386, and the oldest team sport in the world, have been formally brought together at La Varzea Polo Club.

Each year, over the last weekend in March, just before the European season starts, the club hosts The Treaty of Windsor Cup, a low-goal tournament with four chukka matches.

Prior to the first tournament held in March, 2008, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sent a personal message of congratulations to La Varzea, wishing the Polo Club continued success in hosting international events in Portugal.