Abstract: A honda breakaway for attaching to a rope to form a lariat comprises an elongated unitary member of lightweight flexible material having substantially cylindrical end portions that are open and slit longitudinally. One end portion of the breakaway has a wide tapered slit for releasably receiving a distal end of the rope. The other end portion of the breakaway has a narrow slit for retaining a portion of the rope that is removed a selected length from the free end. The received end of the rope, the selected length of the rope, the retained portion of the rope and the unitary member define the honda which is used to form the lariat. After an object has been lassoed, an application of a sufficient force from a hand held end of the rope, opposite the distal end, pulls the distal end from the breakaway to disconnect the honda and the lariat and enable retrieval of the rope.