Which countries have been credited with inventing billiards?

Several countries have been credited with the invention of billiards, including France, England, China, Italy, and Spain. However, the true origins of the game remain unknown. It is widely inferred that billiards evolved from various earlier games that featured the propulsion of a ball as a primary mechanic. While the exact birthplace of the game cannot be confirmed, the earliest references to billiards in Europe date back to the 15th century.1