US Polo vs Ralph Lauren: ¿misma marca? Logos, precio y ajuste
No. U.S. Polo Assn. and Ralph Lauren are not the same company. U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association; Polo Ralph Lauren is a Ralph Lauren label. Count the horses: one rider means Ralph Lauren, two riders chasing a ball means U.S. Polo Assn. U.S. Polo Assn. typically costs far less.
One naming note: "Assn." is short for "Association." If you've seen it read as "Polo Assassin," that's the same U.S. Polo Assn. brand. And when people say "Polo" on its own, they usually mean Polo Ralph Lauren.
U.S. Polo Assn. vs Polo Ralph Lauren at a glance
| U.S. Polo Assn. | Polo Ralph Lauren | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership and history | Official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (founded 1890), run by USPA Global, a USPA subsidiary | A label of Ralph Lauren, founded in 1967; the Polo shirt dates to 1972 |
| Logo | "Double Horsemen": two mounted players going for the ball | The Pony: one mounted player with a raised mallet, embroidered at the left chest |
| Price range (polo shirt) | $42 to $48 regular; $19.99 to $21.99 on sale | $115 to $118 regular; some colors marked down (e.g. $74.99) |
| Materials and build | Solid Pique Small Logo Polo: 100% cotton pique, ribbed collar, side vents | Classic Fit Mesh Polo: 100% cotton mesh, collar with striped tipping, tennis tail |
| Fit options | Regular fit and slim fit | Classic Fit, Custom Slim Fit and Slim Fit |
| Where it's sold | About 1,200 brand stores plus department stores, sporting goods shops and online in 190+ countries | RalphLauren.com, Ralph Lauren stores and Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Stores |
Is U.S. Polo Assn. owned by Ralph Lauren?
No. The United States Polo Association has governed the sport in the US since 1890. Its clothing brand is managed by USPA Global, a subsidiary of the association, and in May 2026 the brand reported a record $2.7 billion in worldwide retail sales for 2025. It also sponsors the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
Ralph Lauren founded his company in 1967. Polo Ralph Lauren is the line most people mean when they say "Ralph Lauren polo," but the company also runs other labels such as Purple Label and Double RL, so check which label a price refers to.
The trademark fight, in court-record order
The two have been in court over the polo-player imagery for four decades. The rulings explain why the logos look the way they do today:
- 1984: In U.S. Polo Ass'n v. Polo Fashions (S.D.N.Y.), Judge Leonard Sand found that the USPA and its licensees infringed the Polo marks. The order still let the association run a licensing program under its own name with a mounted-player symbol "distinctive" from Ralph Lauren's "in its content and perspective."
- 1996 to 2006: The USPA started using versions of its Double Horsemen logo, and Ralph Lauren sued. A 2003 settlement resolved most issues. At trial in 2006, a jury found that three of the four Double Horsemen versions did not infringe for apparel, leather goods and watches. The Second Circuit affirmed in 2008.
- 2011 to 2013: Fragrance went the other way. Judge Robert Sweet ruled in 2011 that the Double Horsemen on men's fragrance infringed, a permanent injunction followed in March 2012, and the Second Circuit affirmed in 2013.
So U.S. Polo Assn. is a legitimate brand that can sell clothing with its two-rider logo, but within limits the courts drew product category by product category.
U.S. Polo Assn. vs Ralph Lauren logo: how to tell them apart
Count the horses. The Ralph Lauren Pony is a single player on one horse. The U.S. Polo Assn. Double Horsemen shows two players chasing a ball, and the brand name or "USPA" usually appears with it.
Shop the look
These are EastLyst picks from our own store. No affiliate links.
Small chest embroidery can be hard to read in product photos, so zoom in and check the neck label and the seller before you buy.
Price: two real polos side by side
We compared the closest equivalents on each brand's US site on October 18, 2026. Prices change with sales, so use these as a snapshot:
- Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Mesh Polo Shirt (style 583006): $115.
- Polo Ralph Lauren The Iconic Mesh Polo Shirt and Custom Slim Fit Stretch Mesh Polo: $118, with some colors marked down to $74.99.
- U.S. Polo Assn. Solid Pique Small Logo Polo Shirt: $42 to $48 regular, $19.99 to $21.99 on sale.
- U.S. Polo Assn. Slim Fit Solid Pique Polo Shirt: $42 regular.
At full price, the Ralph Lauren shirt costs a little under three times as much. Both are 100% cotton with a ribbed collar and a two-button placket. The listings differ in knit (mesh vs pique) and details like Ralph Lauren's longer back hem. Nobody has published a lab durability test of the two, so price alone won't tell you which lasts longer.
Fit and sizing
Ralph Lauren publishes measurements for its Classic Fit: cut fuller through the chest, waist and sleeve, with a lower armhole. A medium has a 44" chest, 18" shoulder and 28.5" front length. Custom Slim and Slim sit closer to the body. U.S. Polo Assn. lists its Solid Pique Small Logo Polo as a regular fit and sells separate slim-fit polos, some with a little stretch in the cotton.
Don't assume your size carries over from one brand to the other. Lay a polo you already like flat, measure chest and length, and compare that with the chart. Our clothing size guide explains body vs garment measurements.
Who should buy U.S. Polo Assn.
Go with U.S. Polo Assn. if you want several everyday cotton polos without spending much, or if you like a sporty look tied to the real sport. Sale prices around $20 make it easy to buy a few colors. The brand also covers men, women and kids, and its stores and wholesale partners make it easy to find in person in many countries.
Who should buy Polo Ralph Lauren
Pick Polo Ralph Lauren if you want the single-Pony logo, the cotton mesh the brand has sold since 1972, and a choice of three fits backed by published measurements. You pay $115 to $118 at full price, so it makes more sense for a polo you plan to wear for years, or when your color goes on sale.
Shopping U.S. Polo Assn. at EastLyst
EastLyst stocks U.S. Polo Assn. but not Ralph Lauren. For a short-sleeve polo, see the U.S. Polo Assn. Men's Cooling Short Sleeve Polo Shirt or the U.S. Polo Assn. Women's Breathable Short Sleeve Polo Shirt. If you'd rather have a button-down for work, try the Men's Lightweight Long Sleeve Dress Shirt or the Men's Lightweight Business Casual Shirt. Check each product page for current colors, sizes and fabric.
If you want an unbranded polo instead, try our Slim Fit Sports Polo Shirt, or browse men's tops and shirts, women's tops and shirts and men's classic style.
Frequently asked questions
Is U.S. Polo Assn. the same as Ralph Lauren?
No. U.S. Polo Assn. belongs to the United States Polo Association and is managed by its subsidiary USPA Global. Ralph Lauren is a separate company.
Is Polo the same thing as Ralph Lauren?
"Polo" usually refers to Polo Ralph Lauren, which is a Ralph Lauren label. U.S. Polo Assn. (USPA) is a different company with a two-rider logo.
Is U.S. Polo Assn. a Ralph Lauren knockoff?
No. It is the licensed brand of the sport's US governing body. Courts have allowed its Double Horsemen logo on apparel, leather goods and watches but barred it on fragrance.
Which logo has one horse and which has two?
Polo Ralph Lauren uses one rider (the Pony). U.S. Polo Assn. uses two riders going for a ball.
How much is a Ralph Lauren polo vs a U.S. Polo Assn. polo?
On October 18, 2026, Polo Ralph Lauren mesh polos listed at $115 to $118 on RalphLauren.com. U.S. Polo Assn. pique polos listed at $42 to $48, with sale prices of $19.99 to $21.99 on USPoloAssn.com.
Is Ralph Lauren better quality than U.S. Polo Assn.?
There's no independent test comparing them. Both core polos are 100% cotton with ribbed collars. Compare the fabric, fit and measurements of the specific shirt.
Do U.S. Polo Assn. and Ralph Lauren fit the same?
Not necessarily. Ralph Lauren offers Classic, Custom Slim and Slim fits. U.S. Polo Assn. offers regular and slim. Measure a shirt you own and compare charts.