The Peruvian Paso Horse
Descending from horses introduced by the Spanish in the 16th century, the Paso horse is one of the smoothest riding horses in the world. It possess a unique and natural gait called the paso llana, which is a lateral four beat gait that is between the trot and the canter and is ideal for covering long distances. Due to its 400 years of isolation, the Paso has evolved as one of the purest breeds in the horse kingdom and is considered to be one of the greatest breeding achievements in the equine world.
History
The Paso's ancestors are a mix of naturally gaited Barb, Spanish, Jennet, and Andalusian breeds that were brought from Spain during the conquest. During this time horses were used primarily for transportation, especially for trekking across arid deserts and vast plantations spread out over the country. Peruvian breeders selectively bred for gait, temperament, and conformation in order to produce a strong, hardy animal that was easy to control, and thus, ideal for transportation covering long distances.
Gait
Instead of a trot the Paso has a gait that has four equal beats executed laterally: left hind, left fore, right hind, right fore. This gait was bred into the Paso in order to cover long distances without tiring the horse or rider. The gait doesn't require training but is apparent at birth. There are two different gaits: the paso llano, which has four equal beats and is the most preferred, and the faster sobreandando, which has lateral beats that are closer together and have a pause between steps.
Appearance
The Paso is medium sized, between 14.1 and 15.2 hands high and with a powerful build. Its deep chest and strong neck contribute to its amazing endurance, with stallions having an even more prominent chest and neck. The colors vary from chestnut, black, brown, bay, buckskin, palomino, and gray. The mane and forelock are thick and shiny, which is a beautiful accent to the Paso's noble and haughty demeanor.
The Paso Today
In the past thirty years there has been a renewed interest in this remarkable animal. In fact, the Peruvian Paso is recognized as a Patrimonio Cultural (cultural patrimony) of Peru and the annual National Show in Lima is a major Peruvian event. The horse is also gaining popularity in the US and other countries because of their good nature and comfortable ride. There are an estimated 25,000 in the world that are used for pleasure, horse shows, trails, parades, and long distance riding.
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