The 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry was a former British Indian army cavalry regiment. It was formed in the year 1849 at Lahore by Lieutenant W G Prendergast of the British East India Company. The regiment extensively served on the North West Frontier of India. The military battalion served as a part of the Punjab Frontier Force. The 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry was popularly known as the 23rd Punjab Cavalry (Frontier Force) or simply as 23rd Cavalry.

Military Operations of 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry
The 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry took part in various British combats and conquests. It participated in the march from Kabul to Kandahar under the leadership of Lord Roberts during the Second Afghan War. The regiment was then included as a part of the Kabul Field Force. The troops also fought in the Battle of Kandahar. During the commencement of the First World War, the army unit was stationed at Mesopotamia and served as a part of the 11th Indian Cavalry Brigade. It later advanced to Baghdad under the command of General Townsend.

The 23rd Punjab Cavalry (Frontier Force) was later stationed on the Tigris Front. Subsequently the troops were sent to the Euphrates Front and took part in the Battle of Khan Baghdadi and the Battle of Sharqat. A single squadron of the regiment also served in Persian Arabistan. After the 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry regiment went to back to British India, it served in the Third Afghan War in 1919.

Designations of 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry
The 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry held many designations through out its service under the British Indian army. The list of the designations are mentioned as follows-
* 3rd Punjab Irregular Cavalry - 1849
* 3rd Regiment of Cavalry, Punjab Irregular Force - 1851
* 3rd Regiment of Cavalry, Punjab Frontier Force - 1865
* 3rd Punjab Cavalry - 1901
* 23rd Punjab Cavalry (Frontier Force) - 1903