The butteri, or Italian “cowboys” —  hailing from the lands spanning from the plains of northern Lazio up through the coastal Italian region of Maremma into southern Tuscany — have a long-standing connection to Buffalo Bill and the history of America’s Wild West.

In 1890, Buffalo Bill brought his Wild West Show to Naples, Italy and proceeded to Rome as part of his European tour to offer the world an authentic wild frontier experience and showcase American cowboy skills. During that time, he met a local duke and prince named Onorato Caetani and a bet, or sfida was made between the two men as to who had the better horsemen.