Born out of enthusiasts who wanted to develop the growing sport of BMX in the late 1970s, the American Bicycle Association became the governing body for the sport of BMX. Providing structure and fairness, the ABA helped advance and grow the sport across North America. In 2011, the ABA joined forces with the National Bicycle League and, under the new name USA BMX, the American Bicycle Association has continued to grow the sport in both the United States and Canada as BMX Canada.