Police wagons, also known as patrol wagons, are vehicles utilized by law enforcement to transport detained individuals and/or equipment. There are various synonyms for police wagons, such as paddy wagons, black marias, and meat wagons. Paddy wagons are named after the Irish immigrants who commonly occupied them during the late 19th century. They were initially horse-drawn carriages but later motor vehicles. Black Marias is another term commonly used in North America that is said to have originated from a famous funeral business in New York that had black wagons. Meat wagons are a more colloquial term and often refer to police cars or ambulances used to transport injured persons rather than detainees.