The Granaderos have their origin in the troops commanded by Marshal Antonio José de Sucre who was responsible for the Ecuadorian victory in the Battle of Pichincha in 1822, which effectively sealed the independence of Ecuador from Spain.

The Grenadiers trace thus its heritage from the Ecuadorian cavalrymen of the cavalry regiments of the Gran Colombia Army who fought with Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín during this period of struggle for independence.

Later in the 19th century, the Government Palace of Quito was beginning to be guarded by Army units, which had their headquarters in the nearby building of the former colonial battalion Real de Lima.

In 1987, then President León Febres Cordero published a ministerial resolution on the unit, officially giving it the honorary title "Tarqui Grenadiers", in honor of the troopers who perished during the namesake battle.

Correa also decreed that the ceremony of Guard Mounting is to be held every Monday in the Plaza de la Independencia of Quito, open to the public and in the presence of the President and other dignitaries of the State.