Historically part of Gilgit-Baltistan; however, recent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments have made claims for the Shandur.

In the early 1930s, Major Evelyn Hey Cobb, who served as Britain's appointed political agent, issued an order to Niat Qabool Hayat Kakakhel, the Nambardar (local leader) of Ghizer, to establish a large polo ground in Shandur.

[4] Historically, the sport was played between the small kingdom and rival groups of the Gilgit Agency.

Starting in 1936, annual polo tournaments began to be held at Shandur under the patronage of the British.

Many people from all over the world come to watch polo matches between Chitral and Ghizer[5] At first it was a training game for cavalry or other elite units.

In China, in the year 910, the death of a favourite relative in a game prompted Emperor Apaochi to order the beheading of all players.

Ali Sher Khan Anchan played polo at Shandoor when be briefly occupied Chitral.