Estancia

Estancias are located in the southern South American grasslands of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, while the pampas, have historically been estates used to raise livestock, such as cattle or sheep.

In the peripheral areas of northern Mexico and the southern part of South America, these animals roamed free; settlers conducted periodic raids to catch and slaughter them.

The estancia's ranch worker on horseback in Argentina, the gaucho, has similar status in national folklore and identity to the cowboy of North America.

Since the late 20th century, agriculture has intensified as an industry; landowners have often shifted from livestock to crop farming in the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, due to the region's high soil fertility.

[7] Some such frutos menores were rice, corn, beans, batatas, ñames, yautías, and pumpkins;[8] among fruits were plantains, bananas, oranges, avocados, and grapefruits.