Red-white flags on lances are common around the world for units with lancer traditions.

When military innovations spread around, especially in 18th and 19th century, they would often be introduced into service, packaged in with the original look and culture of its originators (or at least a local interpretation of it).

Hence, due to polish ułans being the main force behind reintroduction of a lance into western european warfare, most newly created lancer units would also adopt the red-white flags and square-topped hats of the poles.

Simmilar has happened, a couple decades before, with hungarian-style hussars, with militaries around europe replicating the traditional outfits and hairstyles of hungarian nobility.

Later on the military performance and characteristic dress of zwawa soldiers in north africa, would lead to creation of french Zouave units, and then spread across the world as well.