The pacu jawi is performed in Tanah Datar, one of the regencies of West Sumatra, Indonesia. According to tradition, the race can only be held where the 2,891 m-tall Mount Marapi—reputed to be the origin of the Minangkabau people who populate West Sumatra—is visible. It is held by the region's agrarian population, when the rice fields are empty after harvest and before the next planting. Its location is rotated between several nagaris of Tanah Datar. Traditionally, the hosts are the nagaris in four of Tanah Datar's districts: Sungai Tarab, Pariangan, Lima Kaum and Rambatan.: Together, these four districts consist of 26 nagaris (as of 2014) with altitudes ranging between , and have rice fields and more than 12,000 cattle (2012 data). The race originated as post-harvest entertainment and a celebration for the villagers and has been taking place for centuries, predating the Indonesian independence. In the past, the event was held only twice a year, but the shortening of rice harvest cycle has allowed more frequent installments of pacu jawi. By 2013, one of the nagaris hosted it every two months, with each instance consisting of four events on Wednesdays or Saturdays.