Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which Gran Chaco peoples were known as foot Indians?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
South American nomad
Distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups.
In the context of the Gran Chaco, historic tribes are often categorized based on their adoption of the horse following the Spanish conquest. Those who did not adopt the horse and continued to travel primarily on foot were known as foot Indians.1
Among the groups identified as foot Indians were:
These groupings each consisted of a number of individual tribes that maintained traditional nomadic patterns, distinct from the mounted bands—such as the Abipón, Mocoví, and Caduveo—that emerged as horsemen and raiders in the region.12