Country Brand Ambassador Alfonsina Maldonado takes on Patagonia in one of the world’s most demanding equestrian challenges

In March 2026, Uruguayan rider Alfonsina Maldonado will once again test her resilience in one of the most breathtaking natural settings on the planet. She will be the only Uruguayan competing in the Pass of Tears, a grueling equestrian endurance expedition covering 400 kilometers over ten days across Argentine and Chilean Patagonia, passing near the province of Neuquén and Torres del Paine National Park.

Described by Maldonado herself as “an equestrian Dakar,” the competition combines horsemanship, adventure, and survival in extreme conditions, and is regarded as one of the most demanding events of its kind. Participants must camp in the wilderness, carefully select safe overnight locations, and navigate rugged volcanic terrain, river crossings, glacial valleys, and steep mountain ridges. Along the route, riders face high altitudes, cliffs, swamps, winds reaching up to 80 kilometers per hour, and nighttime temperatures that can drop to -20°C.

The race brings together 33 competitors from 12 countries, including South Africa, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Argentina, Slovenia, Spain, the United States, Italy, Bolivia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and Chile. The event can be contested individually or in teams of up to four. Maldonado will compete as part of a two-person team alongside rider Santiago Ruiz.

Beyond riding skills, the competition demands rigorous horse management. Each rider is assigned two horses, alternating every 200 kilometers, with the goal of ensuring both animals reach veterinary checkpoints in optimal condition. “It’s not just about knowing how to ride, but about making sure your horse arrives in the best possible shape,” she explained about the race dynamics.

Maldonado began her preparation on February 8. She started training in Corrientes at El Puesto ranch, whose vast landscapes allow for long hours in the saddle, and will continue in the El Calafate area, where terrain and climate more closely resemble race conditions. She is currently training alongside her teammate with sessions that begin at 4:30 a.m. and last for hours, preparing for the physical and mental demands ahead.

“When they called me about the Pass of Tears, I immediately said yes. It felt extraordinary — something unique. For me, it’s a learning experience, pushing my limits… physical limits, mental limits,” she said on the race’s official website.

A story of resilience beyond sport

Maldonado’s relationship with horses began in childhood and became a driving force in her life. At six months old, she suffered a serious accident that left her with severe burns. Since then, she has undergone multiple hospitalizations and long rehabilitation processes. Throughout that journey, horses became both refuge and purpose.

Over more than 15 years, she has built a distinguished sporting career, including representing Uruguay in equestrian dressage at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games — the first time the country competed in the discipline — and she is currently training toward the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

The Pass of Tears represents a new challenge. Maldonado lives with chronic pain and acknowledges that managing her body in extreme conditions will be part of the experience. “I know this race will be an emotional roller coaster,” she said. In her personal case, she added, it is also “a major physical challenge” and “an extreme challenge that becomes a journey of personal discovery.”

Carrying Country Brand every kilometer

In 2024, Maldonado was appointed Country Brand Ambassador in recognition of her sporting achievements and, especially, her social work supporting burned children and young people in Uruguay. Her ongoing commitment at Pereira Rossell Hospital has been a defining part of her life. “My greatest medal will be achieving a rehabilitation center for all of them,” she said upon receiving the distinction.

Raised in the Uruguayan countryside, she embodies values closely associated with the country: generosity, tenacity, social commitment, and the traditional garra charrúa — Uruguay’s fighting spirit.

In Patagonia, she will also wear nationally designed and produced garments. Through coordination with Marca País, she will compete wearing a sweater knitted from Uruguayan wool by the local brand The Farra, along with a hat and wool garments by LanaMara — bringing identity and quality into a highly demanding technical environment.

The Pass of Tears requires top-level equipment, comprehensive preparation, and strategic management of both rider and horse. With every stage, Maldonado will carry not only her personal story, but also the name and values of Uruguay — projecting the country’s identity in one of the world’s most extreme equestrian challenges.