In polo, a "chukka" (also spelled chukker) is one of the timed periods that make up a match, similar to a quarter in basketball or a period in hockey. Each chukka lasts 7 minutes of play (with an additional 30-second warning bell near the end), and a standard match consists of either four or six chukkas, depending on the level of competition and the organizing association.
Between chukkas there is a break — typically 3 minutes for a normal changeover and a longer interval (often around 5 minutes, sometimes with a halftime tradition of spectators "treading in" divots) at halftime. During most breaks, players change to fresh horses because a single pony cannot sustain the intense running, stopping, and turning required for a full 7-minute period at a high level of play; this is why polo players maintain a "string" of multiple horses for a single match.
The term "chukka" comes from a Manipuri (northeastern Indian) word meaning "circle" or "round," reflecting the game's origins in the Indian subcontinent before it was codified by British cavalry officers and spread internationally. The exact number of chukkas can vary by tournament rules and the level of play — lower-goal or arena polo matches might use four chukkas, while high-goal outdoor matches often use six.
At the end of each chukka, play stops (except if a goal is about to be scored, in which case play may continue briefly to complete the action), horses are swapped, and teams switch ends of the field periodically to offset any advantage from wind or ground conditions. The chukka system is central to pacing the game, protecting the welfare of the horses, and structuring strategy, since teams often plan which horses to use in which periods based on stamina and the anticipated intensity of play.