page_title: Kepi
section_title: South America
hierarchical_section_title: Kepi / South America
caption_attribution_description: Grupo histórico de militares chilenos en honor del General Manuel Bulnes Pinto al ser nombrado Ministro de Guerra y Marina, en septiembre de 1896. Presentes de izquierda a derecha: Teniente Coronel Santiago O'Ryan, Intendente Carlos Bories, General Alejandro Gorostiaga, General Fernando Lopetegui, General Manuel Bulnes Pinto, Coronel Aníbal Farias, General Emilio Körner, General Manuel Baquedano (última fotografia antes de su muerte), Coronel Waldo Silva Palma, General Estanislao del Canto, Coronel Pedro M. Rivas Cruz, General Joaquín Cortes y General José M. Novoa.- (Información en Chile a Color, Tomo 3, página 1257)
context_page_description: The kepi is a cap with a flat circular top and a peak, or visor. In English, the term is a loanword of French: képi, itself a re-spelled version of the Alemannic German: Käppi, a diminutive form of Kappe, meaning "cap". In Europe, this headgear is most commonly associated with French military and police uniforms, though versions of it were widely worn by other armies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In North America, it is usually associated with the American Civil War, as it was worn by soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
context_section_description: During the Paraguayan War between Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay versus Paraguay — the Brazilian, Argentine, and Uruguayan troops and officers primarily wore kepis, though many Brazilian troops wore brimmed hats, and Uruguayan and Argentine light infantry wore shakos. The Paraguayans mostly wore leather shakos, but senior officers were given kepis. Leather kepis were however issued as a forage cap to Paraguayan troops, and because of poor supply standards, were often seen in combat.
  With the exception noted below, the Chilean Army no longer wears kepis, but during the War of the Pacific, it was part of the standard army uniform. Similarly, the kepi is no longer worn by the modern Peruvian armed forces and police, but was part of the uniforms worn during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  Today, the following ceremonial units in both countries still use the kepi:
  in Chile, the 4th Company of the 7th Reinforced Regiment "Chacabuco" and the 1st Historical Company of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Rancagua";
  in Peru, the Fanning Marine Company of the Peruvian Navy; and the National Police of Peru's Guards Inspector Mariano Santos Company. Both retain the War of the Pacific uniforms, respectively, of the Peruvian Navy and the Civil Guards of Peru. A Peruvian Army company has recently adopted the kepi and white uniforms worn by the 2nd Infantry Battalion "Zepita" — a style used during the War of the Pacific — for public parades.
  Bolivia's 1st Infantry Regiment "Colorados" and the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Regiments of the Bolivian Army also wear the kepi as part of their full dress uniforms on major ceremonial occasions.
  The Argentine National Gendarmerie (Gendarmería Nacional Argentina; GNA) members wears a green kepi as part of fatigue and full dress uniforms.
caption: Chilean Army generals in their French-influenced uniforms:[citation needed] Gorostiaga, Lopetegui, Bulnes, Körner, Baquedano, del Canto, Cortes, Novoa.
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