Prestigious British brand Ona Polo has reached a major milestone after establishing itself as an undisputed benchmark in the manufacturing of high-end sports equipment. SME News awarded Ona Polo as Leading Pioneers 2026 as part of its renowned business awards. This important recognition celebrates twenty-five years of continuous dedication, precision engineering, and relentless efforts to transform safety standards and player performance on polo fields around the world.
International recognition for innovation and excellence
Ona Polo has been officially recognised at the ninth edition of the UK Enterprise Awards organised by SME News. The awards programme celebrates the achievements and excellence of the most outstanding companies in the United Kingdom across a wide range of industries each year.
On this occasion, Ona Polo was recognised for twenty-five years of pioneering polo-specific equipment — technical gloves, protective eyewear and performance apparel worn by players at every level, from grass roots to the highest-goal tournaments in the world. Winners are selected strictly based on professional merit, recognising the creativity and dedication that set businesses apart.
Twenty-five years, proven in competition
Ona was founded in 2002 as a specialist polo equipment brand, built on a simple observation: nothing on the market at the time was designed specifically for the demands of the sport. The brand was built on specialized polo performance needs.
In 2003, Ona launched its first product, the Ona Polo Dura Grip glove — and put it straight to the test. Two of Argentina’s most legendary teams, Indios Chapaleufu I and Indios Chapaleufu II, wore the gloves at the 110th Argentine Open that same year. In 2004, Indios Chapaleufu II won the 111th Open wearing Ona Polo Dura Grip Gloves — the first of many titles claimed in Ona equipment, and the moment that established the brand among professional players worldwide.
Premium materials, uncompromising standards
The company’s continued innovation is driven by partnerships with some of the world’s leading material developers, including Schoeller®, Armortex® and Pittards® — the historic English leather specialist. Ona applies these premium materials across its products for their exceptional quality, enhancing the performance, grip and durability players rely on in the saddle.
In eyewear, the Ona VCP21 stands among the most outstanding products in performance eyewear worldwide. Developed in-house using premium Zeiss® lenses, it meets the US military ballistic standard MIL-PRF-31013, alongside ANSI Z87.1 certification — placing Ona among only a handful of companies anywhere producing sports eyewear tested to that standard. Ona eyewear meets US military ballistic standard MIL-PRF-31013 for maximum player protection. For players who need corrective lenses, Ona partners with MAXIMUS to integrate a prescription directly into a single curved optical lens, offering the same performance and protection in full prescription strength.
Trusted by professionals and guided by strong leadership
For Alejandra Falkinhoff, CEO of Ona Polo, this distinction reflects the tireless work of a team committed to technical excellence. The executive highlighted that creating equipment trusted by thousands of professional and amateur athletes worldwide requires the highest level of precision.
Falkinhoff stated that this award belongs to every member of the company who works to design, test, and perfect each piece of equipment. For the brand, equipment quality can determine the difference between a minor impact and a serious injury during competition.
Looking ahead
Twenty-five years in, Ona Polo shows no sign of slowing down. Ona Polo continues pushing boundaries of safety and performance across gloves, eyewear, elbow pads, technical pants and apparel — equipment trusted by professional and amateur players alike, around the world.
The name itself carries that same spirit: Ona takes its name from the Selk’nam, the indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego famed for their resilience in one of the world’s harshest environments.
Media ContactCompany Name: Ona PoloContact Person: Press OfficeEmail: Send EmailCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://onapolo.com/
