Argentina Gauchos: Cowboys Of The South American Pampas Parade Through San Antonio De Areco

Hundreds of men dressed as Argentine cowboys trotted through the streets on horseback last weekend in San Antonio de Areco, a town about 70 miles north of Buenos Aires.

Each year for the past 72 years, the 5-day festival has celebrated gaucho customs, according to the BBC.

Oswaldo Asconjaurejui, a local resident, spoke about the importance of keeping the town's traditions alive. "Advancement and progress are leaving the gaucho behind, but we have to fight to the end -- until the last breath has left us," he told the BBC in the video above.

Gauchos, often compared to North American cowboys, traditionally lived nomadic lifestyles in the South American grasslands.

San Antonio de Areco is a popular tourist destination, and reportedly attracts an increasing number of foreigners each year. Juan Pedro Colombo, the municipality's Director of Tourism, stressed the importance of utilizing the Gaucho and the horse as figures of the Argentine tradition during a meeting last week, according to the Areco Semanal, a local electronic publication.

Above, watch video from the celebrations in San Antonio de Areco. Below, see some gaucho photos!