alforzas

Alforzas is a term with limited independent use in English-language sources. In modern Spanish, it is commonly seen as a misspelling or nonstandard variant of alforjas, the saddle bags carried on pack animals or saddles.

An alforja, the standard form, is a bag made of leather or fabric that is attached to a horse, mule, or camel to carry gear, provisions, or mail. They are typically paired, one on each side of the animal or saddle, and secured with straps. Sizes vary from small pouches to larger pannier-style bags, and designs may reflect regional tailoring and material availability.

Historically, alforjas have been important for long-distance travel, trade caravans, military campaigns, and rural work. They facilitated the transport of food, tools, and personal belongings in environments where other carrying options were limited. In many regions of the Iberian Peninsula and in parts of Latin America, saddle bags were a common accessory for caravans, herding, and mounted transport.

Today, the term alforzas is not widely used in standard Spanish and is generally considered a dialectal or erroneous plural form of alforjas. The underlying concept remains common, however, in rural practices, traditional horseback logistics, and in historical accounts of travel and commerce.

Etymology for alforja and its variants is not universally agreed, but alforjas is the recognized term for the bags themselves. See also alforja.