Origins
At the beginning of the modern colonial period such troops were predominantly Europeans from the home army of the country concerned, but locally raised "native" troops were soon recruited. The latter normally served in separate units, at first under their own leaders, later under European officers.
The sepoys of the British East India Company were a major early example. By the mid 18th century these troops were beginning to be directly recruited and officered by the Company, allowing more systematic provisioning, drill and tactics. Some of the sepoys rebelled against the Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, or "Sepoy Mutiny", leading to the end of Company rule in India. After the British Raj took control in 1858, the sepoys formed the famous regiments of the British Indian Army, some of which survive to the present day in the national armies of Pakistan and India. The French and Portuguese colonies and enclaves in the Indian subcontinent also raised sepoys.
Read more about this topic: Colonial Troops
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