Because of the ready availability of silver and gold in Perœ, these materials were often used to substitute iron and copper. Later on the stirrups were made of wood adorned with intricate carvings and ornamental nickel or silver pieces.

The typical Peruvian stirrup, as it is known today, has the shape of a truncated pyramid with a toe hole in one of its faces. On the upper end, the stirrup has a metal cover in the shape of a bell (campana) and ring to which the stirrup strap is attached. The corners of the stirrup are usually covered with metal pieces (punteras). Some rare exotic and native hard woods are sometimes used in the crafting of stirrups but the most commonly used woods are olive and algarobbo, a variety of mesquite abundant in the coastal area of Perœ. Some Peruvian stirrups are made of leather with a metal frame that closely resemble the western stirrups with taps.