A
llanero (ʝaˈneɾo,
plainsman) is a
Venezuelan or
Colombian
herder. The name is taken from the Llanos grasslands occupying western Venezuela and eastern Colombia. The Llanero were originally part Spanish and Indian and have a strong culture including a distinctive form of music.
During the wars of independence, Llaneros served in both armies and provided the bulk of the cavalry during the war. In 1819, an army of Llaneros, led by
Simón Bolívar and
José Antonio Páez, defeated the Spanish with a surprise attack when they crossed over the
Orinoco plains and the
Andes mountains.