An estancia (American Spanish: [esˈtansja]) or estância (Brazilian Portuguese: [iʃˈtɐ̃sjɐ]) is a Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese term describing private landholdings. In some areas, they were large rural complexes with similarities to what in the United States is called a ranch. They are large farms which are spread over extensive areas, often 10,000 ha Estancias in the southern South American grasslands, the pampas, have historically been estates used to raise livestock (cattle or sheep).