How did leadership change among the Tehuelche after horses were introduced?
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South American nomad
Distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups.
The introduction of the horse in the early 18th century fundamentally altered the social and political structure of the Tehuelche. Prior to this, their organization likely centered on kinship-based leadership.
As the Tehuelche transitioned into mounted bands that engaged in hunting and warfare, their social organization shifted significantly. These bands grew in size, sometimes reaching up to 500 members. Consequently, the role of the traditional kinship leader diminished in importance, being gradually replaced by the successful war leader. This shift reflected the new demands of a society increasingly defined by mobility, territorial expansion, and intergroup conflict.1