Huaso

A Huaso (female China) is a Chilean farm workers and specially dressed riders. It is comparable to the American cowboy or Argentine Gaucho. The word "China" (read: Tschina ) comes from the Quechua language and means female, colloquially woman.

The Huasos work and ride mostly in the Central Valley of Chile ( Central Valley near Santiago de Chile). You can wear a typical dress with a straw hat, called Chupalla. Most wear a poncho, called Manta. Rare is the very expensive garb Chamanto. Here is a brief Andalusian vest and leather cloth coming up over the boots which bear spores.

Huasos are an important part of Chilean folklore and culture often part of parades, fiestas and holidays, especially also in the Chilean Rodeo.

However, the urban population uses the word Huaso usually disparagingly, sometimes friendly, derogatory, within the meaning of uneducated and uncultured.

As pastoralists in the Chilean culture, there are also arrieros Ovejeros, and in the Chilean Patagonia also Gauchos.