Notes

The Chilean Rodeo is the national sport of Chile and one of the country's most recognizable traditions. The rodeo consists of a collera, a pair of riders on horseback, who try to pin a steer by driving it into the padded walls of a half-moon-shaped corral called a medialuna. The collera gain points based on how many times they can properly pin the steer, and they lose points for poor form or faults.

The origins of the Chilean Rodeo can be traced back to the period of the Spanish conquest of Chile in the 16th century. In that era, cattle were not branded in any way, making it common for the animals to be lost to their owners. In order to curtail this loss, Governor García Hurtado de Mendoza ordered that all cattle be gathered in Santiago's Plaza de Armas to be selected and branded every year on July 25, the day of the city's patron saint, Saint James (Apóstol Santiago). The date eventually changed to October 7, the day of Saint Mark (Apóstol Marco). The gatherings produced well-trained riders capable of transferring cattle to the various corrals.

By the end of the 17th century, the Chilean Rodeo started to become organized, resembling more closely the sport as it is known today. After the riders brought the cattle out of the corrals and onto the main road, they would show off their ability to lead and drive the cattle, separating a single calf and guiding it without any assistance. The most skilled riders would be rewarded with great honors and prizes.

In 1860, the rectangular shape of the main corral changed to the more circular medialuna familiar to audiences today. Most corrals have a radius of between 20 and 25 meters, about half the length of a US football field.

Today, there are over 300 rodeo clubs in Chile. They compete in various events during a season that spans from August until April. Chilean Rodeo competitions now take place according to strict regulations, which establish that only Chilean horses and riders with full, traditional huaso attire can participate. The Chilean huaso attire includes hat, jacket, solid-colored shirt, boots, sash, and chamanto. The chamanto is a short (navel or hip length), reversible poncho. Interestingly, the Chilean Horse is the oldest registered stock breed in the Americas