fine four beat gait.
In Colombia, some thirty years later the Spanish horses were bred in semi isolation, and in different regions of the country. The country is vast and differed greatly from the geography of Puerto Rico. The Colombian criollo was bred to meet the demands of a rugged terrain, and to service settlers’ needs in conquering the challenges of early day colonization.
Again, the criollo was bred to create animals of necessity. As life in Colombia progressed the passion of breeding the finest animals became a matter of pride for haciendas and families. Lines often carried the name from the farm, a region or an extraordinary horse. Cattle ranchers required a larger and stronger horse to perform work on large plantations, the diagonal gaits of trocha and trote galope were well suited for these disciplines, while traveling greater distances and overseeing plantations were more suited to the lines that produced the lateral paso fino gait.
No matter the discipline, all modalities were bred with the highest regard for quality animals. It was in the 19th century here too that competitions between haciendas, and regions soon developed to compare horses and determine the finest bred animals. The 20th century lead to organized competitions, associations, breed standards and competition rules.
By the mid 1940s American servicemen stationed in Puerto Rico discovered the smooth riding Paso Fino. They not only grew to admire the breed, they recognized that it was unlike any other riding horse
that existed back home. A number of servicemen brought Paso Finos with them upon returning home after World War II. It would be another two decades before Paso Fino were imported from Colombia, but word of this new breed was spreading and the demand was increasing quickly. American breeders, still learning about the breed, had to deal with cultural differences, language barriers, distance and the cost of importation as they continued to import breeding stock.
As the Americas were colonized, the selective breeding of the “Caballo de Criollo” (native descendants from original stock) created similar yet unique strains of Paso horses for specific and diverse roles of exploration, conquest and settlement of the Caribbean and Latin America. Initially in Puerto Rico and Colombia, the criollo became known as Paso Fino and Paso de Colombiano. Later on, as exploration and trade increased, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Aruba all bred regional strains of Paso horses. Not all regions used the name of Paso Fino, but those that did were passionate and determined that theirs was the birth place of Los Caballos con Paso Fino... the horse with the fine step.
No other gaited breed of horse can boast the wide spread use and recognition over such a historic period and length of time. It is no wonder then, that there is no other gaited breed that stirs such passion and intensity from so many. In countries of origin, it goes beyond the horse… it is inclusive of culture and heritage, the sport of showing and a way of life. A way of life that spans more than five centuries.
In Puerto Rico it was Ponce de Leon, who in 1509, was responsible for bringing a number of those horses from the remount station. These first arrivals included horses that performed an easy ambling gait. Owners blended these Spanish horses to create the first criollo (bred and born locally) horses of Puerto Rico shaped by the environment and needs of the island’s settlers, with a preference towards a smooth natural gait. The country grew and developed, and with it the criollo evolved to meet the demands of the people.
The selective breeding of the best criollo with future imported stock resulted in the foundation of a new breed of horse, the Paso Fino, named for the smooth natural gait that it performed.
Then towards the end of the 19th century, the noted breeding of extraordinary horses resulted in what would impact the future of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino. The Andalusian stallion Faraon was bred to the mare La Cora, resulting in Faraon II. Faraon II was bred to La Vazquez producing Caramelo and Caramelo was then bred to Masqueada. This final cross brought to the breed, Dulce Sueno, who truly exemplified the breed and set the standard by which the breed would be known. Almost all pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses are descendants of the sire, Dulce Sueno. Breeding took on purpose and gave vision to the future of the breed. The breed came to be the national horse of Puerto Rico. As early as 1849 Paso Fino competitions were established for the purpose of improving the local horses. Puerto Ricans prized their horse, breeders took pride in breeding stock and haciendas concentrated on producing the finest animals with a smooth, equal and fine four beat gait.
In Colombia, some thirty years later the Spanish horses were bred in semi isolation, and in different regions of the country. The country is vast and differed greatly from the geography of Puerto Rico. The Colombian criollo was bred to meet the demands of a rugged terrain, and to service settlers’ needs in conquering the challenges of early day colonization.
Again, the criollo was bred to create animals of necessity. As life in Colombia progressed the passion of breeding the finest animals became a matter of pride for haciendas and families. Lines often carried the name from the farm, a region or an extraordinary horse. Cattle ranchers required a larger and stronger horse to perform work on large plantations, the diagonal gaits of trocha and trote galope were well suited for these disciplines, while traveling greater distances and overseeing plantations were more suited to the lines that produced the lateral paso fino gait.
No matter the discipline, all modalities were bred with the highest regard for quality animals.
It was in the 19th century here too that competitions between haciendas, and regions soon developed to compare horses and determine the finest bred animals.
The 20th century lead to organized competitions, associations, breed standards and competition rules.
By the mid 1940s American servicemen stationed in Puerto Rico discovered the smooth riding Paso Fino. They not only grew to admire the breed, they recognized that it was unlike any other riding horse that existed back home. A number of servicemen brought Paso Finos with them upon returning home after World War II. It would be another two decades before Paso Fino were imported from Colombia, but word of this new breed was spreading and the demand was increasing quickly. American breeders, still learning about the breed, had to deal with cultural differences, language barriers, distance and the cost of importation as they continued to import breeding stock.
No doubt all of these factors played roles in the selection of horses that arrived in North America. There were those that recognized and enjoyed the horse that could perform more of the Paso Fino gaits, a remarkably versatile horse. These horses were capable of working on the ranches, hitting the trails but could also attend the weekend shows participating in the pleasure classes. Others recognized the exquisite, short strided show horse, those capable of performing the highly collected show gait. All of these horses were prized by owners and breeders alike. The timing was now perfect for creating the first Paso Fino Horse association in North America. With the same dedication and passion that they had for the breed, a handful of people formed the association that would set the breed standards, promotion and rules that would form the American Paso Fino Horse.
Today, the American Paso Fino Horse is still a versatile, smooth gaited, all-a-round mount. Owners and breeders use their Paso Finos for pleasure riding, competitive distance and obstacle events and ranch work. In the arena we find Paso Finos preforming in gaited dressage, timed speed events, free style routines and even driving. The American Paso Fino is well suited for the entire family.
The gait of the Paso Fino is totally natural and normally exhibited from birth. It is an evenly spaced 4-beat gait with each foot contacting the ground independently in a regular sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm. When executed perfectly the four hoof beats are absolutely even in both cadence and impact. The Paso Fino gait is performed at three forward speeds and with varying degrees of collection. In all speeds of the gait the rider should appear virtually motionless in the saddle and there should be no perceptible up and down movement of the rider or horse’s croup.
Classic Fino - the horse is balanced and fully collected, utilizing extremely rapid footfall with exceedingly short steps, used for show purposes.
Paso Corto - the same four beat pattern but with moderate speed and collection which would be similar in speed to the trot of non-gaiting breeds and used comfortably for pleasure and trail riding.
Paso Largo - the fastest speed of gait in which the paso horse can reach speeds equivalent to a canter or slow gallop, speed ranges vary with the individual horse’s genetic ability.
Additionally the Paso Fino can canter, gallop and walk.
We invite your inquires. Breeders are located in many states and provinces from Florida to British Columbia, Canada. Call, email or visit the website for more information. Call 615-562-PASO
website: www.americanpasofino.com
email: [email protected]
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