Portuguese-style bullfighting

Most Portuguese bullfights (corridas de touros) are held in two phases: the spectacle of the cavaleiro, followed by the pega.

In the second stage, called the pega, the forcados, a group of eight men, challenge the bull directly without any protection or weapon of defense.

After the fight the bull may be either killed by a professional butcher or, after a good performance, restored to health and released to pasture for breeding.

Portuguese immigrants from the Azores also practice "tourada a corda" in the city of Brampton, southern Ontario, Canada.

This practice is believed to have been introduced in the 1700s by King Joseph I of Portugal, presiding at Salvaterra de Magos, after having witnessed a tragic accident during a bullfight; the son (and heir) of the Marquis of Marialva IV was fighting a bull on horseback when the animal wounded his horse, causing the young man to fall to the arena floor.

The Marquis himself, then around 70 years of age, leapt down from the royal seats that he shared with the King, drawing his sword and killing the bull, albeit several seconds too late.

Some southern and central regions of Portugal (such as Ribatejo and parts of the Alentejo), including Terceira Island, Azores, are traditionally more interested in the corrida de touros (running of the bulls) as opposed to bull-baiting or fighting.

[14] In July 2018, animalist party PAN presented a proposal at the Portuguese Parliament to abolish all types of bullfighting in the country.

Left-wing party Left Bloc voted in favour of the proposal but criticised its lack of solutions to the foreseen consequences of the abolition.