History Main / Cowboy

The common possessions of a Working Cowboy include: A saddle, a saddle blanket, a rope, some saddle bags and whatever personals he can fit in them (including his hat), as well as a rifle and a six-shooter. If he has his own horse he is well off (relatively) for a cowhand.

On the Plains, larger ranches based around the water holes are to be expected with a significant number of working cowboys, with a scattering of Rodeo Riders.

In the Mountains expect smaller ranches, with the result of more Lone Cowboys, Philosopher Cowboys (they like smaller operations where their intellect can be appreciated), and the ranches are more open to a Drifter Cowboy.

In the Desert/Badlands, expect cowboys to be [[GoingNative closer to the Indians]], with two or three characters referred to as Apache, or raised by Apache. A lot more emphasis on water scarcity, similar to the mountains in character composition, but expect more Outlaws, both as The Rustlers, and among the legitimate Working Cowboys. This is a land for [[TheStoic Hard Men]] and if you do the work people don't ask questions.

Similarly, in fiction, [[GayCowboy gay cowboys]] are relatively uncommon, despite the fact that historians agree (citation needed) that many cowboys were gay men who moved from cities to ranches in order to escape persecution. (Even though the rural areas associated with cowboys are expected to be more politically conservative, and therefore less accepting of open homosexuality).

Mexican and Mexican-American cowboys, called ''Vaqueros'', tended to fare better in media presentations, known for their riding and roping skills. Vaqueros are in fact the precursors to what we consider cowboys. It's from them that we get the equipment and the word "rodeo" and many of the events included in it, after all. This used to be mixed with unfortunate negative stereotypes, however. Many early vaqueros were Amerindians who worked in missions in colonial New Spain. Vaquero was anglicized as "buckaroo," which became a term for cowboys in the Great Basin and California.

* '''TheGunslinger.''' Most ranches were staffed by working cowboys, but usually at least a few were "good with a gun" despite not being professional gunfighters. All of them were expected to wield a gun if the ranch was attacked (known as "riding for the brand"), loyalty was highly prized, and drifter cowboys were often suspect for this reason. If a fight was expected the boss might go ahead and hire him some gunfighters.
* '''TheDrifter.''' A fair amount of ranch work is seasonal, and a cowboy without a solid reputation often had to go where they needed extra hands, rather than hold down a steady position. And not a few had the wanderlust.
* '''{{Outlaw}}.''' The EvilCounterpart of the Cowboy is TheRustler, who uses the same skills to steal cattle and horses.

* ''{{Franchise/Anpanman}}'' has a Western town in the desert, which is where the cowboy characters live and protect. These characters include Hamburger Kid, Yakisobapanman, and Croquette Kid, along with their horses (Pickles, White Sauce, and Ketchup, respectively). Outside of the Western town is Arinkokiddo, an ant cowboy with [[ShrinkRay shrink and growth pistols]] that rides a grasshopper for his steed.

* ''The Six-Shooter'' starred Jimmy Stewart as a drifter cowboy with [[TheGunslinger superior shooting skills]].

'''Philosopher Cowboy:''' This is TheSmartGuy who decides he prefers honest work amid the outdoors rather than the City Life. Plutarch was a big read for literate cowboys, along with the Bible, parts of Shakespeare and whatever small books would fit in a saddlebag. May be called upon to say a few words on portentious occasions. Can come very close to the WarriorPoet.

* Houston from the ''Videogame/KantaiCollection'' fic ''Fanfic/PacificWorldWarIIUsNavyShipgirls'' dresses as a cowgirl, complete with stereotypical Southern accent, HandCannon revolver, and Texas-themed cowboy boots.

Similarly, in fiction, [[GayCowboy gay cowboys]] are relatively uncommon, despite the fact that historians agree many cowboys were gay men who moved from cities to ranches in order to escape persecution.

* Wrestling/{{CMLL}} has Yuca La Potranquita, a masked cowgirl from Mexico city and Wrestling/{{AAA}}'s La Legión Extranjera employed Virginian cowgirl Lorelei Lee.

In the Desert/Badlands, expect cowboys to be [[MightyWhitey closer to the Indians]], with two or three characters referred to as Apache, or raised by Apache. A lot more emphasis on water scarcity, similar to the mountains in character composition, but expect more Outlaws, both as The Rustlers, and among the legitimate Working Cowboys. This is a land for [[TheStoic Hard Men]] and if you do the work people don't ask questions.

[[folder: {{Music}}]]

Mexican and Mexican-American cowboys, called ''Vaqueros'', tended to fare better in media presentations, known for their riding and roping skills. Vaqueros are in fact the precursors to what we consider cowboys. It's from them that we get the equipment and the word "rodeo" and many of the events included in it, after all. This used to be mixed with unfortunate negative stereotypes, however. Many early vaqueros were Amerindians who worked in missions in colonial New Spain.

* Cowboy Stackhouse from ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes''
* Quickstrike from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', a villainous metal [[MixAndMatchCritters scorpion/cobra hybrid]] has the personality if not the looks, with a generous helping of Redneck added to the mix.

* Greg Saunders, the first Vigilante from Franchise/TheDCU, was a singing cowboy turned masked crimefighter.

* "Music/HoldingOutForAHero" by Bonnie Tyler: There are {{outlaw}} cowboys [[EvilWearsBlack dressed in black]], and a good cowboy dressed in white, and all of them ride on horseback.

* Wrestling/StanHansen is a {{trope codifier}} for cowboy [[TheGimmick gimmick]]s in the USA and Japan, particularly for a violent swinging clothesline which would come to be known as a lariat, or [[{{Engrish}} LARIOTO]]!

The Cowboy is the archetypical character of the {{Western}}, perhaps the quintessential American hero. In the simplest terms, a "cowboy" is someone whose primary job is tending a herd of cattle on a ranch. In more general terms, it can be any character that has the appearance and mannerisms of a cowboy. Thus, the term "cowboy" is often used as an inclusive term for any Western characters, regardless of whether they are actually ranchers or not.

'''Singing Cowboy:''' A cowboy who sings as his primary avocation. While it's true that some musical talent was always appreciated on the range, the singing cowboy was really a product of Hollywood. The standard formula for B-movies included at least one musical number, and a singing cowboy could slip one right in naturally while saving the ranch. "Saving the ranch" is the number one plotline for singing cowboy stories, closely followed by "clean up the lawless town." Top singing cowboys included Creator/RoyRogers and Gene Autry, but even Creator/JohnWayne was tested as one in an early movie! Now a DeadHorseTrope; nowadays if you see a singer in a cowboy hat, he's just a Country-Western musician.

'''Cowgirl:''' The DistaffCounterpart of the Cowboy. Generally a PluckyGirl in Western garb, who can ride and shoot as well as any man (except the protagonist), but who is seldom seen doing any of the filthier ranch chores. In fiction, almost always the love interest for the protagonist, or the young man the protagonist is helping this week. May be a plentiful source of titillation (though to be fair, cowboys can be that too.) and can overlap with FarmersDaughter. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] females who are a LittleBitBeastly and bovine-based, or the result of mixing CuteMonsterGirl and ALoadOfBull.

* John Marston from ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'', a Working Cowboy who has his own ranch and maintains it along with his family. By the beginning of the game, he's forced back into TheGunslinger life and has to leave the ranch to save his family from a GlidedCage.

* Cassidy of ''VideoGame/{{Brawlhalla}}’' is a Cowgirl.

* Cassidy of ''VideoGame/Brawlhalla'' is a Cowgirl.

'''Cowgirl:''' The DistaffCounterpart of the Cowboy. Generally a PluckyGirl in Western garb, who can ride and shoot as well as any man (except the protagonist), but who is seldom seen doing any of the filthier ranch chores. In fiction, almost always the love interest for the protagonist, or the young man the protagonist is helping this week. May be a plentiful source of titillation (though to be fair, cowboys can be that too.) and can overlap with FarmersDaughter. [[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] females who are a LittleBitBeastly and bovine-based, or the result of mixing CuteMonsterGirl and ALoadOfBull.

* Several characters in ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'' are gunslingers working as drifter cowboys at the start of the movie.