Uruguay, the Natural Home of Pio Endurance

by María Carreño Mora

25 oct. 2025

Coming back from Uruguay to a big city is definitely a cultural shock. Uruguay never ceases to amaze me: it feels like a tiny bubble where magic happens every day. A transparent bubble, where the days seem longer and life flows calmly.

Here, sunrises and sunsets feel endless. There are no mountains cutting the horizon, only an open sky that changes color so slowly it forces you to stop and watch. In some parts of the country, there’s even the tradition of going out to witness the sunset and clapping at the exact moment it disappears, as a simple gesture of gratitude for the day lived. Sunrise, on the other hand, arrives with an unexpected symphony: birdsong so loud and varied it feels impossible to count them. Different colors, sizes, and sounds surround daily life, reminding you at every step that nature here is not just a backdrop, but the protagonist. And when night falls, the sky lights up with an uninterrupted carpet of stars: far from the city, nothing dims their brilliance. One can spend hours looking at them, while even storms, rumbling across the countryside, feel like part of the calm.

What truly makes a difference in Uruguay is its people. Kind and hardworking, they may seem shy at first, but always sincere. They don’t get tangled in words: they say just enough, with a straightforward honesty you immediately notice. Even their greetings carry warmth: it’s not “buenos días” (good morning), but “¡buen día!” (have a good day), as if truly wishing the entire day to be good. And when you say “gracias” (thank you), the answer is not “de nada” (you’re welcome), but “merece” —a simple word meaning “you deserve it,” that turns gratitude into a shared acknowledgment. Sooner or later, you’ll hear “¡vamos arriba!”, that quintessential phrase of theirs, a push of encouragement to keep going. They use it so much it has become part of everyday life, even appearing in WhatsApp stickers next to the classic flexing arm.

Culture is expressed in small shared rituals. Mate passed from hand to hand to spark conversation. “tortas fritas” on a rainy day, dulce de leche on any table, and the afternoon “merienda” —always time to gather, share something sweet, and talk. It’s a simple life, yet full of gestures that make you feel part of it.

In every corner of the countryside, there’s a horse. Someone taking care of it, riding it, keeping it company. Horses aren’t a luxury or a rarity, but part of the human landscape, as natural as the open horizon.

And it is in this country, with its infinite sky, its sincere people, and its intimate bond with horses, that Pio Endurance International finds its home. A place to care, train, develop, and compete, in harmony with nature and with the spirit of endurance.