Polewali Mandar, formerly Polewali Mamasa (Polmas), is one of the five regencies in the province of West Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is bordered by the regencies of Mamasa in the north, Majene in the west, and Pinrang regency of South Sulawesi in the east. The region is inhabited by several ethnic groups such as the Mandarness, the Buginess, the Javaness, and the Torajaness.
The regency covers both the coastline and mountain areas. The land is considered quite fertile with large paddy farms as well as plantations for chocolate and coconut plants.
The Mandars are the indigenous ethnic group and the major part of the population. Several national public figures originated from this region, the most famous one is Baharuddin Lopa, the legendary Indonesian Attorney General.
The capital town is Polewali, located in the seaside area, in the bank of Mandar Gulf and about 200 km away from the capital city of West Sulawesi, Mamuju or 250 km away from Makassar, South Sulawesi's capital city.
The regency used to be called Polewali Mamasa (Polmas), i.e., when the region still became the part of South Sulawesi.