Usage of the lasso in the american west is tied (no pun intended) quite directly to the history of cattle drives and the development of unique livestock transportation practices. Most are familiar with the practice of herding animals. Sheep can be herded throughout pastures as a means of grazing and a means of transportation. Cattle farmers in early america would raise large herds of cattle in the far west, and then herd them eastwards to sell them in more densely populated areas.

Cattle drivers were presented with the challenge of herding hundreds, or even thousands, of cattle over incredibly long swaths of desert and grassland. These cattle drives were developed alongside the ranching industry by the spanish, but american cattle drives often covered much larger distances and involved larger amounts of cattle. Cattle driving was a difficult job. As few as 5 to 10 cowboys could be responsible for moving and monitoring a thousand cattle as they moved. The lasso was a unique tool that allowed cowboys to wrangle cattle from horseback. Originally developed by the Spanish cowboy, lassos were incredibly effective in wrapping around the horns of cattle and subsequently directing them where they needed to go. Strays from large cattle herds were common. While strays in small herds of sheep can be controlled with trained dogs or a human on foot, cattle can be much more aggressive and travel much more quickly. The lasso gave cowboys a way to herd these animals from a distance and via horseback. As the food demand in the developing american east rapidly grew, so too did the demand for cattle drives from the west. As the popularity and size of cattle drives grew, so too did the use of the lasso. The wide spread portrayal of the american cowboy in popular media only furthered the symbolism of the lasso and it's association with american cowboys.