The Red River Cart was a large two-wheeled cart that was simple to build, easy to repair, and almost indestructible. Because nails were unavailable or very expensive, these carts contained no iron at all and were entirely constructed of wood and animal hide. Often drawn by oxen, these carts were used throughout most of the 19th century in the fur trade in the area of the Red River and on the plains west of the Red River Colony. The cart was developed by the Métis for use in their settlement on the Red River, for buffalo hunts, farming and hauling goods.