The underlying United States Polo Association was founded in 1890, while the U.S. Polo Assn. commercial brand dates to 1981.1

United States Polo Association: 1890

The history of U.S. Polo Assn. begins with the United States Polo Association, commonly abbreviated as USPA. Founded in 1890, the USPA was established to organise and promote the sport of polo in the United States. It serves as the governing body responsible for polo rules, competitions, handicaps, tournaments, clubs, and the safety and welfare of players and horses. The organisation describes itself as the largest voluntary sports organisation in North America dedicated to polo.2 Consequently, the USPA is fundamentally a sports organisation rather than a fashion company.

Creation of the U.S. Polo Assn. brand

The commercial U.S. Polo Assn. brand was incorporated in 1981 as the official consumer-facing brand associated with the United States Polo Association.3 The objective was to translate the traditions and visual identity of polo into a broader lifestyle brand. Rather than producing clothing exclusively for professional polo players, U.S. Polo Assn. developed casual clothing inspired by the sport and its associated American sporting culture.

Revenues generated through the licensing business provide the USPA with a long-term source of funding for polo-related activities. These include player benefits, training programmes, tournaments, rules and officiating, and programmes concerning the welfare of equine participants.4

The identity of U.S. Polo Assn. is based on the intersection of sport, American heritage, and casual fashion. The brand positions itself as representing an authentic connection to the actual sport of polo because it is officially connected to the organisation governing polo in the United States.5

Its aesthetic generally combines:

• American sportswear
• Traditional polo clothing
• Preppy influences
• Casual everyday fashion
• Athletic styling
• Red, white, and blue Americana
• Equestrian and polo imagery
• Classic embroidered logos
• Contemporary seasonal fashion

The brand describes its philosophy as “Polo Tradition Meets Modern Style.”6

One of the most recognisable features of U.S. Polo Assn. is its Double Horsemen (DHM) logo. The emblem depicts two polo players on horseback, reflecting the sport from which the brand derives its identity. The logo is used prominently on products including polo shirts, shirts, jackets, caps, and accessories.

The Double Horsemen is particularly significant because it visually differentiates U.S. Polo Assn. from brands that use a single polo player. Product and style materials identify the Double Horseman logo as one of its signature elements,7 and it has become almost synonymous with the brand itself.

U.S. Polo Assn. has expanded considerably beyond the traditional polo shirt.

Apparel

Clothing ranges include:

• Polo shirts
• T-shirts
• Shirts
• Sweaters
• Jackets
• Outerwear
• Jeans and trousers
• Shorts
• Dresses
• Skirts
• Activewear
• Swimwear
• Children’s clothing

The company produces collections for men, women, and children.8

Polo shirts

The polo shirt remains the brand’s most recognisable product category. The company offers different cuts and constructions, including classic, slim, heritage, fashion, and premium styles. Designs range from understated embroidered logos to more colourful striped, patriotic, and sport-inspired designs.4 The polo shirt is particularly important to the brand because it connects everyday fashion directly to the sport that inspired its identity.

Accessories

U.S. Polo Assn. also operates in numerous accessory categories, including:

• Bags
• Backpacks
• Wallets
• Belts
• Hats
• Scarves
• Watches
• Luggage
• Footwear
• Other fashion accessories

The brand’s official description also lists home furnishings and other lifestyle products among its licensed categories.9

A critical aspect of U.S. Polo Assn. is that its international business has historically been based heavily on licensing. The USPA does not necessarily manufacture every U.S. Polo Assn. product itself. Instead, trademarks and brand identity are licensed to companies that develop, manufacture, distribute, and sell products in particular markets or categories.

USPA Global Licensing, Inc. acts as the steward of the Association’s trademarks and logos worldwide and works with licensees across regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, China, and the Middle East.10 This model allows the brand to expand into many countries and product categories without operating every part of the manufacturing and distribution chain itself. The structure functions as follows:

United States Polo Association → USPA Global / licensing operations → licensed partners → U.S. Polo Assn. products → consumers

This licensing business creates an important financial relationship between the fashion brand and the sport of polo.

Understanding the distinction between the entities is essential.

United States Polo Association

The USPA is the sporting organisation. Its responsibilities include promoting and governing polo, supporting polo clubs and players, organising competitions, maintaining rules and handicaps, and promoting player and horse welfare. It was established in 1890.11

U.S. Polo Assn.

U.S. Polo Assn. is the commercial sportswear and lifestyle brand associated with the USPA. The brand is managed through USPA’s commercial and licensing operations, with revenue helping to provide financial support for the sport.12 This connection is considered a major competitive advantage: the brand is not merely inspired by polo; it is officially connected to the organisation representing polo in the United States.

U.S. Polo Assn. has grown from an American polo-associated clothing brand into a large international sportswear business. The brand currently states that it operates in more than 190 countries, with more than 1,100 retail stores and thousands of additional distribution points. Its product portfolio covers apparel, accessories, and footwear for the entire family.14

Its international presence includes markets throughout:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• Middle East
• India
• China
• Southeast Asia
• Australia
• Africa

The company’s international licensing structure has been particularly important to this expansion.

For 2024, USPA Global reported $2.5 billion in global retail sales for U.S. Polo Assn. The brand was ranked No. 1 among sports brands and No. 23 overall on License Global’s 2025 Top Global Licensors list.6 For comparison, the company reported approximately $2.4 billion in global retail sales in 2023, alongside a footprint of more than 1,100 stores in over 190 countries.13 These figures refer to global retail sales, rather than necessarily representing revenue received directly by one corporate entity.

U.S. Polo Assn. continues to maintain a relationship with the actual sport. The brand sponsors and participates in polo-related events and uses its commercial platform to promote the sport internationally. For example, in 2026 the brand announced partnerships involving the St. Regis British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup and the DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup. It has also worked with ESPN and other broadcasters to increase the visibility of polo.10 This is part of a broader strategy in which the brand is positioned not simply as fashion inspired by a sport, but as part of a broader sports-and-entertainment ecosystem surrounding polo.

A common source of confusion is the relationship between U.S. Polo Assn. and Polo Ralph Lauren. They are completely separate brands.15

The distinction is significant because the similarity of names and polo imagery can lead consumers to assume the two brands are connected. They are not.

U.S. Polo Assn. generally occupies the accessible-to-mid-market sportswear/lifestyle segment rather than the high-luxury segment. Its products are designed to combine the visual language of traditional American and polo-inspired clothing with relatively accessible everyday fashion. Its positioning can be summarised as:

Polo heritage + American sportswear + casual lifestyle fashion

This differs from the luxury-oriented interpretation of polo found in brands such as Ralph Lauren Purple Label, while also distinguishing U.S. Polo Assn. from purely performance-oriented athletic brands.

Licensing is central to the brand’s international strategy. Licensees operate across a large number of geographic regions and product categories, enabling U.S. Polo Assn. products to be adapted to different markets while retaining the same core trademarks and visual identity.16 This explains why U.S. Polo Assn. products can look somewhat different from one country to another. Collections, pricing, retailers, product categories, and licence partners may vary by market. The American website, for example, is only one part of a much larger international network.

The brand’s philosophy revolves around several recurring concepts:

Authenticity

U.S. Polo Assn. emphasises its official connection to the USPA and the actual sport of polo.

Tradition

The brand draws heavily on the USPA’s history dating back to 1890.

Sport

Polo provides the foundation for the brand’s imagery, sponsorships, product designs, and storytelling.

American heritage

Red, white, and blue colour schemes, flags, collegiate details, and traditional sportswear are frequently used to communicate an American identity.

Accessibility

Rather than presenting polo as an exclusive sport reserved for professionals, U.S. Polo Assn. markets polo-inspired fashion to a broad consumer audience. The brand describes this philosophy as making the culture and lifestyle surrounding polo accessible to a wider audience.16

U.S. Polo Assn. has developed sustainability and social initiatives under its broader USPA Life platform. The company has highlighted partnerships and initiatives involving environmental causes, charitable polo events, and efforts connected to the equestrian community. Current brand materials highlight a partnership with 4ocean as part of its sustainability efforts.17

Because the brand’s commercial activities generate revenue for the USPA, the fashion business also indirectly supports programmes associated with polo development, player benefits, education, competition, and horse welfare.18

U.S. Polo Assn. has an established international presence in the Philippines, which is listed among its official international brand sites.16 The Philippine market fits naturally into the brand’s broader Southeast Asian expansion, where American-inspired casualwear, polo shirts, and lifestyle fashion have a significant consumer audience.

The official Philippine-facing brand site is:

U.S. Polo Assn. Philippines

U.S. Polo Assn. is unusual in the fashion industry because its identity is tied directly to a real sporting governing organisation. While many fashion companies borrow imagery from sports, U.S. Polo Assn. emerged from the commercial exploitation and licensing of the trademarks of an organisation that actually governs the sport of polo in the United States.

This gives the brand a distinctive historical narrative:

1890 — USPA founded
↓
1981 — U.S. Polo Assn. commercial brand established
↓
Expansion through licensing
↓
Global sportswear and lifestyle brand
↓
190+ countries and 1,100+ stores
↓
Modern integration of fashion, polo, media and sports sponsorship

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official lifestyle and sportswear brand of the United States Polo Association, the American governing body for polo founded in 1890. The commercial brand was established in 1981 and uses the heritage, imagery, and culture of polo to sell casual clothing, polo shirts, footwear, and accessories. Its distinctive Double Horsemen logo represents two polo players and is one of its most recognisable symbols. Through a global licensing business, the brand has expanded to more than 190 countries and more than 1,100 stores. Its commercial success also provides a source of revenue for the USPA and its efforts to promote and develop polo. U.S. Polo Assn. is independent from Polo Ralph Lauren despite the similarity in name and polo imagery.19

1. Florida Trend: Billion-dollar brand U.S. Polo Assn. boosts sport’s expansion from West Palm Beach
2. International– U.S. Polo Assn.
3. The Life– U.S. Polo Assn.
4. Men’s Polo Shirt Style Guide– U.S. Polo Assn.
5. About Us– U.S. Polo Assn.
6. U.S. Polo Assn. Named No. 1 Sports Licensor and Top 25 on License Global’s Prestigious ‘Top Global Licensors’ List
7. U.S. Polo Assn. Moves Up Two Spots in License Global’s Top 25 ‘Top Global Licensors’
8. Brand – U.S. Polo Assn.
9. PRIVACY POLICY– U.S. Polo Assn.
10. U.S. Polo Assn. Proudly Partners with the 2024 Outsourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup
11. Global Sports Brand U.S. Polo Assn. Delivers Record $2.4 Billion in Retail Sales for 2023, Targets $3 Billion and 1,500 U.S. Polo Assn. Stores
12. Retail and Leisure International: USPA Global Licensing Opens Global Creative Center
13. TERMS OF USE– U.S. Polo Assn.
14. U.S. Polo Assn. Brand Continues Its Global Expansion | Company Newsroom of U.S. POLO ASSN.
15. The Official Brand of the United States Polo Association
16. The Official Brand of the United States Polo Association
17. The Official Brand of the United States Polo Association
18. Global Sports Platform
19. Heritage & History