Dragões.

This is coolbert:

From the comment of a person I reasonably infer is an expert on the subject:

"I certainly never saw any evidence of the Portugese using Mounted troops in Mozambique."

And this does appear to be correct. The Portuguese, during their various counter-insurgency campaigns - - Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, did restrict their use of cavalry, dragoons, to Angola.

See this web site article about the Portuguese dragoes [dragoons]. Light infantry men, men-a-horse, riding into battle with pistol and rifle [G3] at the ready. The full dope, as I like to say!

"Fighting Insurgency from Horseback"

Evidently a phenomenon that for the Portuguese was restricted solely to Angola, particular sections of that nation [colony at the time] being most conducive for military operations involving cavalry.

The horse NOT BEING NATIVE TO ANGOLA - - imports only were used. Recruits [locals mostly] for the horse cavalry having to be trained both as soldiers and as horsemen, riding NOT be a "natural" for them!! [skill with the horse being more easily learned that I would have suspected to be possible?]

Please understand that the use of horse cavalry by the Portuguese in Angola was not merely for "show", a "cosmetic", an anachronism without merit. There was real value to these units of dragoes.

coolbert.