The first World Cup was in 1978 in Gotenborg Sweden. The World Cup came to be as a result of the increasing popularity of grand prix show jumping. It was intended to be an international promotion of the sport. The first World Cup consisted of 27 riders that qualified from 19 different countries. Volvo was the first sponsor and continued as the main sponsor up until 1998, thus called the Volvo World Cup.
Incredible riders try to qualify for the World Cup each year.
In 1979 Hugo Simon from Germany won the World Cup on his Hanoverian gelding Gladstone. Susan Hutchison of California, won the 1997 Volvo World Cup North American West Coast League. Conrad Homfeld and his partner, Abdullah, won the 1985 World Cup Final in Berlin, Germany out of a field of 45 riders. Rodrigo Pessoa claimed the Volvo World Cup in Helsinki, Finland. The World Cup has been held in the United States 4 times.