[1][2] Its exact origin is unknown, but documented evidence shows that it long predates the 1375 legal arbitration that established its current format.

In both cases, the people of Barétous were prevented by regional authorities from attending the ceremony out of fear they would escape to Spain.

[citation needed] At about 10 o'clock in the morning of July 13, the representatives of Roncal — wearing their traditional garment consisting of a short black cloak, doublet, breeches, broad linen collar, and a hat — gather on the Spanish side of boundary marker no.262, which substitutes for the traditional St. Martin's Stone (lost since 1858).

Following that, the mayor of Isaba hands over a receipt to the representatives of Barétous, and proceeds to name four guards for the passeries [fr; es] (the communal pastures established by the treaty) of Ernaz and Leja, who are then sworn over.

The disputes were usually resolved by oral agreement, and sometimes via peace letters or the establishment of passeries [fr; es] (communal grazing grounds).

[9] In the 14th century, the count of Foix, Gaston Fébus, acquired control over Béarn, and in 1374 he refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of France or England over it.

In the following decades, the kings of France and England tried successively and in vain to assert their sovereignty over Béarn, whilst the counts of Foix remained largely independent.

While some form of the compact was in place where cows were paid by Baretous to Roncal to maintain the peace, the fights and brawls amongst shepherds of the valleys became increasingly violent.

[11] In this case, Charles IV ordered the lieutenant to move troops to Isaba to ensure peace and that the mountain passes that were rightfully Navarrese remained so:[11] so pena de cuerpos et bienes, cada que serán requeridos por los dichos de Isava, bayan en ayuda deyllos apeyllidamente, en detenimiento de la tierra del Seynnor Rey, no atendiendo padre a fijo ni fijo a padre.

[11] Throughout these years, several failed attempts at reconciliation were made, mediated by the Aragonese town of Ansó, and the bishops of Bayonne, Oloron, Pamplona, and Jaca.

[11] The accounts say that in 1373 two shepherds, Pedro Karrika from Isaba and Pierre Sansoler from Arette, met with their flocks on the mountain Arlas, on what officially was the territory of the kingdom of Navarre.

However, Lucas Lopéz de Garde of Roncal managed to slay the cagot captain, and the rest of the group from Barétous fled the fight demoralised.

In the end, the Barétous asked for a truce, and the Roncalese agreed for the dispute to be settled by arbitration in Ansó, a nearby town in the then independent kingdom of Aragon.

It establishes that the high pastures and water sources lie in Navarrese territory, but the Barétous were granted right of grazing from 10 July to 8 September, and the people of Roncal thereafter until Christmas.

Scholars tend to agree that although seemingly starting as compensation over the conflict, the tribute quickly evolved into a payment in kind for the Barétous to be allowed the use of grazing grounds and water sources in Roncalese territory; it also contributed to strengthening the bonds between the two valleys, and to keeping the peace amongst shepherds and cattle ranchers on either side of the Pyrenees.

[16] Although in origin it might have been an onerous tribute, by the 16th century the payment of three cows in exchange for access to the water sources in Larra and Aranz was regarded as highly advantageous to the people of Barétous.

[17] The carta de paz (peace treaty) of 1375 succeeded in pacifying the relationships between both valleys, although in 1389 amendments had to be added to specify issues related to the breeding of cattle.

On 27 September 1427, a fire destroyed the town of Isaba, including the church that hosted the original treaty, and records of the ceremonies that had taken place thereto.

In 1483, with the marriage of Catherine of Foix to John III of Navarre, the sovereignty of both territories fell under the personal union of the Navarrese monarchy until 1512, which strengthened the links between both valleys.

[22] The first recorded interruption of the tribute dates back to 1698, when the Barétous valley paid a fine of 300 silver marks instead.

[25] The Treaty of Bayonne of 1856 established the modern border between France and Spain, and was aimed at solving the proverbial problems surrounding the grazing grounds in the Pyrenees.

As a result, over 600 people climbed the Col de la Pierre St Martin that year to demonstrate against the ceremony.

[8] Due to difficult access and rough terrain around the Col de la Pierre St Martin, until the mid 20th century the representatives of Roncal and Barétous had to depart the day before the ceremony and then spend a night mid-way.