They are used by the gauchos in South America today , but have been found in excavations of pre-Hispanic settlements , especially in Patagonia , where indigenous peoples used them to catch guanaco and Ã andu . They are most famously used by the South American gauchos , but have been found in excavations of Pre-Columbian settlements , especially in Patagonia , where indigenous peoples used them to catch guanaco and Ã andÃ .