Pigeon racing in Poland is overseen by "Polski Związek Hodowców Gołębi Pocztowych ("the Polish Pigeon Breeders Association), which has over 40,000 members. The first local association of pigeon breeders in the Polish lands under occupation was established in 1905 in Zabrze. After Poland regained independence in 1918, several such organisations were established and in 1926 the first nationwide breeders' association was established - "Zjednoczenie Polskich Stowarzyszeń Hodowców Gołębi Pocztowych na Rzeczpospolita Polska" (Unification of Polish Pigeon Breeders' Associations for the Republic of Poland). The breeding of racing pigeons was banned during the Nazi occupation, but at the end of World War II the Polish Pigeon Breeders Union was recreated on April 1, 1946 in Kraków.