In many tectonically active regions around the World, the recurrence patterns of large earthquakes are still poorly understood. This has been emphasized in recent years by major earthquakes that were not well predicted using previous models (e.g. the Mw 9.2 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake in 2004, the Mw 7.0 Haiti earthquake in 2010, the Mw 8.8 Chile earthquake in 2010, the Mw 9.0 Tōhoku earthquake in 2011 and the Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake in 2015). In order to produce reliable seismic hazard assessments, a better understanding of earthquake recurrence patterns –both in space and in time– is required.