The short answer is South America, where archaeologists have discovered burial ponchos dating back 2,000 to 2,500 years in Paracas, Peru. Woven by hand, they are surprisingly similar to those worn today in the Andes.
If you run an Internet search for “poncho,” you’ll probably find results that include the word Pancho. Pancho is the nickname for Francisco. Poncho is the nickname for Alfonso, and neither one has anything to do with the garment’s origin.
Poncho is thought to be a Quechua word, “punchu,” adapted to Spanish pronunciation. It denotes a fabric wrap. The word is also similar to “pontro,” or “woven wool” in the Araucanian language, native to Argentina and Chile.
The name poncho is used worldwide but, in Mexico, it is also known as a “gabán,” in Brazil, “paia,” and in Chile, “chamanto.” The longer ponchos called “jorongos,” are often worn by the South American chalán, or horseman.
Where did the poncho originate and how did it get its name?
