Pronounced "poon-tay-ah-door". Largest of the three types of pandero and sets the base beat for the music of Plena. Much like the others it looks like a particularly oversized tamborine.
It has a really deep sound, its rythmic "boom-boom-boom" acting as a heartbeat for the other two panderos to follow. Speeding up or slowing down the beat of this simple instrument greatly changes the entire feel of the music produced. A sudden (yet subtle) increase in pace can turn an otherwise easy-going melody into and energetic barrage of thunder that I can only describe as the most irresistible melody on the planet (though I may be biased).
Traditionally, the punteador is held along the arm with one edge on the chest and the hand holding the opposite edge. The other hand is used to rythmically beat on the instrument.