About The United States Polo Association

Structure

The United States Polo Association was founded in 1890 to create a uniform method of handicapping players and to standardize the rules of the game in the United States. The founders' objective was to raise the game to the status of a recognized American sport.

Over one hundred years later; with those goals accomplished, the U.S.P.A.'s key functions remain - rule making and handicapping of players, as well as enhancing competition by conducting and sanctioning tournaments, promoting safety, managing the international aspects of the sport and promoting its growth. Its membership consists of the clubs and their playing members. Recently the organization has contended with an explosion of interest in polo. There are now more than 275 member clubs and more than 3,500 registered players in the United States.

Member clubs in the United States and Canada are divided into thirteen geographical circuits, each administered by a Circuit Governor elected by the delegates of the clubs in the Circuit. The Circuit Governors, twelve Governors at Large, and the Officers constitute the Board of Governors which is the governing body of the U.S.P.A. Other than a paid director; all those who administer the sport, officers, governors and delegates are volunteers who serve without compensation.

The USPA headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky.

Who Does What?
by Richard Riemenschneider - May 1996

The Polo Training Foundation (PTF) recently conducted a survey of USPA members. The results showed that there is much confusion about the missions, services and operations of the United States Polo Association, the Polo Training Foundation and United States Polo Association Properties.

These corporations are separate legal entities with their own Officers, Directors, Governors, Trustees, etc. In some instances, individuals may serve on more than one of these Boards. Each organization has its own purpose and agenda and each makes its own decisions.

It is important that USPA members know and understand the distinction between these corporations which serve and benefit the polo community.

The United States Polo Association

The United States Polo Association is a non-profit corporation, but is not a charitable organization under the IRS code and cannot accept tax deductible donations. The members of the USPA are the Active Member Clubs. Each member club selects a Delegate to represent the club and its registered members. This Delegate receives all communication from the USPA. He represents his club at the USPA annual meetings, and casts votes for the club in the election of Circuit Governors, Governors-at-Large and Officers.

The USPA is the governing body of the sport and a) makes the rules, b) issues handicaps, c) sponsors the tournaments, and d) provides communication for the sport of polo in the United States.

The Polo Training Foundation

The Polo Training Foundation's purpose is to establish and administer a series of funds, including memorial, advisory, international, endowment, intercollegiate/ interscholastic, and others. These funds are dedicated to support Polo in collegiate or scholastic sports curriculums, promote international goodwill through Polo competition, and above all, encourage development and sportsmanship through teaching young people the principles of the game of Polo.

The Polo Training Foundation is a charitable foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code. As such, it receives voluntary, tax-deductible contributions from the general public. These contributions are used to support various programs intended to improve and promote the sport of polo. These programs include a) club level training clinics, b) educational tools such as the arena and outdoor rules video, c) Intercollegiate and Interscholastic polo, d) umpire training programs and e) International polo.

The activities of the PTF are closely coordinated with the USPA, and contributions to the PTF make it possible to expand the services of the USPA.

USPA Properties

U.S.P.A. Properties, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the U.S.P.A. Our mission is to secure a long term source of income for the United States Polo Association by licensing its trademarks in commerce throughout the world.

U.S.P.A. Properties, Inc. has over 50 licensees worldwide who market a wide variety of U.S. Polo products such as men's and women's sportswear, children’s wear, junior boys’ and girls’ apparel, footwear, and accessories, e.g., backpacks, leather purses, belts, wallets, luggage, perfume, watches, and housewares.