Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2017 | Page 250

Polo Pony progress toward
the genomic era
Sebastian Demyda Peyrás, Pablo Trigo
and Pilar Peral García (IGEVET – Veterinary
School of the National University of La
Plata); Rodolfo Cantet, Sebastián Munilla
and Andrés Rogberg (School of Agricultural
Sciences of Buenos Aires University - INPA
CONICET); Pablo Juan Ross (University of
California, Davis (USA); Antonio Molina Alcalá
(MERAGEM Investigation Group; Córdoba
University, Spain) and Mercedes Valera
Córdoba (MERAGEM Investigation Group;
University of Seville, Spain). SCIENTIFIC
COMMITTEE for the development of
genomics in the Argentine polo pony.
It is an irrefutable fact that the Argentine Polo Pony
is that with the best performance level worldwide.
The best example of this is the amount of horses
belonging to different breeders, which receive
prizes at all the places in the world where this
beautiful sport is played. This occurs because
its phenotype (morphology + physical aptitude
+ behavioral and cognitive aptitudes) are those
most adapted to today’s style of play, due to the
increase in the performance of top seeded players
on a global level together with an intense empirical
248
(based on their own knowledge) selection process
by the great majority of breeders of this breed
during several generations.
What is it that makes these animals so appropriate
for the practice of this sport? In this short note we
argue that it is probably due mostly to their genetic
background (no doubt, as geneticists, due to a
simple professional deformation), which has been
molded for over a century of polo at the highest
world level.
They have developed an efficient and solid
production system that has made it possible
to select the animals with the most aptitude
for this sport. Additionally, these aspects have
been enhanced by the broad ge