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Stand-up paddling can be traced back to several origins. On one hand, Polynesian fishermen near Tahiti stand and move in their canoes as they paddle the sea. One-person bamboo rafts in particular are still used in Asia, with paddles being used in addition to poles when standing. On the other hand, in the 20th century, surfing instructors in Hawaii used stand-up paddleboards as a convenient way to get around, using paddles with surfboards from shore to breaking reefs and faster back. The surf instructor also has a better understanding of the surf students due to the higher position on the board.

In the 2000s, Stand Up Paddle developed as a sport in its own right, independent of wind and waves, and became increasingly popular as a recreational sport. So it has developed into a water sport with its own technology and independent competition. Stand-up paddling is primarily practiced in Hawaii, the US Pacific coast, Australia, the British Isles and Japan. Since the 2010s, stand-up paddling has also found its way into Europe.

At first, existing surfboards and longboards or so-called tandem boards were used for surfing. They create enough buoyancy to support the weight of the athlete (paddle, clothing) and they can stand on them. Also from surfing come the ropes that keep the board from getting lost. Various manufacturers now offer special stand up paddle boards and paddles. In the past, SUP boards for stand-up paddling in waves were geometrically similar to normal surfboards. At the same time, boards were specially developed for this sport. With the invention of inflatable stand up paddle boards (known as iSUPs or Inflatable SUPs) made available to the public, the sport evolved as the handling and transport of such boards became greatly simplified. Today, SUP has become a widespread recreational sport.