Paso Fino - Horse Breed & Info

The Paso Fino horse has a proud past and is one of the oldest native breeds in the Western Hemisphere. They are now commonly found throughout the United States and Canada, and also in Puerto Rico, Columbia, and throughout South America.

BEGINNINGS

In 1492, Columbus discovered a continent without horses. On his second voyage from Spain, he brought a select group of mares and stallions from the provinces of Andalusia and Cordela, and settled them at Santo Domingo. These horses were a mixture of Barb, Andalusian and Spanish Jennet. The Spanish Jennet not only possessed an extremely comfortable saddle gait, but also was able to pass the gait on to its offspring. The result of the blending of these horses was horses with an incredibly smooth gait, which would evolve into the breed - the Paso Fino horse.

These horses were the foundation stock for the remount stations of the Conquistadors. As Spanish settlers came to the New World, they brought more Spanish horses. During the nearly 500 years that Paso Fino Horses have been selectively bred and perfected in the Western Hemisphere, they have been called upon to perform a diverse role, first in the conquest of, and then in the exploration and development of the Americas.

CHARACTERISTICS

The head of the Paso Fino horse should be refined and in good proportion to the body of the horse, neither extremely small nor large with the preferred profile being straight. Eyes are large and well spaced, very expressive and alert, and should not show excessive white around the edges. Ears are comparatively short, set close, and curved inward at the tips. The lips should be firm and the nostrils large and dilatable. Jaws are defined but not extreme. The impression should be of a well-shaped, alert, and intelligent face.

The neck should be gracefully arched, medium in length and set on at an angle to allow high carriage, breaking at the poll. Throat latch should be refined and well-defined. Shoulders are sloping into the withers with great depth through the heart. Chest is moderate in width.

The withers are defined but not pronounced and slope smoothly into the back. The midsection is moderate in length with a well-sprung rib cage. The topline should be proportionately shorter than the underline. The back should be strong and muscled. The midsection should join the forehand and the hindquarters so as to give the horse a pleasing, proportioned appearance.

Regarding the hindquarters, the croup is slightly sloping with rounded hips, broad loins, and strong hocks. The tail is carried gracefully when horse is in motion.

The legs of the Paso Fino horse are straight with refined bones and strong, well defined tendons and broad, long fore-arms with shorter cannons. Thigh and gaskins are strong and muscled, but not exaggerated. Standing slightly under in the rear is typical. Pasterns are sloping and medium in length. Bones are straight, sound and flat, and joints are strong and well defined. The hooves are well rounded, proportionate in size, and do not show excessive heel.

Mane, tail and forelock should be as long, full and luxurious as nature can provide. No artificial additions or alterations are allowed. A bridle path not exceeding 4" is acceptable. Size ranges from 13 to 15.2 hands with 13.3 to 14.2 being the most typical. Weight ranges from 700 to 1100 lbs. Full size may not be attained until the fifth year.

Every equine color can be found, with or without white markings.

The disposition of the Paso Fino is marked by an extremely willing horse that truly seems to enjoy human companionship and strives to please. Spirited and responsive under tack; sensible and gentle at hand.

THE GAIT

The Paso Fino gait is a four-beat lateral gait, the birthright of every Paso Fino. Newborn foals struggle to their feet and take their first faltering steps in gait. It is essentially a broken pace: it is lateral, not diagonal. The cadence of the 1,2,3,4, beat is rhythmic with equal time intervals between hoof beat.

There is very little up and down movement in either the croup or the shoulder of the horse. The gait is performed at three speeds with the collection decreasing as speed increases.

Paso Fino means "Fine Step".

The Paso Fino can walk freely, and many of them can perform a collected canter or a relaxed lope as well

The Paso Fino horse is versatile, able to adapt to a variety of climates and purposes. The breed demonstrates its remarkable versatility not just in the show ring, but on competitive trail and endurance rides, in dressage, rodeo, and working cattle.

  
Photos courtesy and © Paso Fino Horse Association

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The Paso Fino is a Spanish Breed; so are the following:
Alter Real
Andalusian
Argentine Criollo
Azteca
Criollo Horse
Kiger Mustang
Lusitano
Mangalarga Marchador
Mustang
Peruvian Paso
Sorraia
Spanish Mustang
Sulphur Springs Mustang

The Paso Fino, as well as being Spanish, is also a Light Horse Breed; here are other breeds in that category: