PATU (Pan American Taekwondo Union) is one of the five (5) regional Taekwondo organizations under WTF (World Taekwondo Federation). The other four (4) are: Africa, Asia and Europe and Oceania. PATU encompasses the entire western hemisphere from the North Pole to the South. We total 42 member nations. The Pan American Taekwondo Union functions solely to provide members everything they need to enable their member schools to train athletes to the best of their ability in both mind and body.

PATU coordinates various activities of WTF, promotes Taekwondo development, organizes seminars, lectures, championships and tournaments, promotes rank and referee status, tests, distributes and advises on new equipment and generally advises members in all aspects of Taekwondo.

PATU is recognized by the following organizations:

IOC	International Olympic Committee
WTF	World Taekwondo Federation
PASO	Pan American Sports Organization
ODECADE	Organizacion Deportiva Centroamericana Y Del Caribe
ODECABE	Organizacion Deportiva Caribbean
ORDECA	Organizacion Deportiva Centroamericana
ODESUR	Organizacion Deportiva Suramericana
ODEBO	Organizacion Deportiva Bolivariana
AFTU	African Taekwondo Union
ATU	Asian Taekwondo Union
ETU	European Taekwondo Union
OTU	Oceania Taekwondo Union

PATU is the official sponsor of the following events:

• Pan American Championship
• Pan American Cup
• Pan American Jr./Sr. Open
• Pan American Collegiate Championship
• Pan American Junior Championship
• Pan American Regional Olympic Selection Tournament

PATU participates in the following international multisports games:

• Pan American Games
• Bolivarian Games
• Caribbean Games
• Central American Games
• South American Games

PATU is registered as a non-profit organization. PATU organizes: sisterships between schools in member nations, relief efforts in areas hit by natural disasters, and any function deemed necessary for the further development of Taekwondo in the western hemisphere.