| History |
The Paso Fino - the mount of the Spanish Conquistadors -
has proud ties to a glorious past and the prospect of an even greater future, as this elegant smooth-gaited
breed captures the hearts of horse lovers everywhere.
The Paso Fino is the oldest true native breed of horse in the Western Hemisphere.
Columbus discovered a horseless America. Although the ancestors of the present-day horse evolved and
developed in North America and spread to other parts of the world, horses vanished from the New World
during the Ice Age, between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago.
Nearly 500 years ago, on his second voyage from Spain, Columbus brought a select group of mares and
stallions from the provinces of Andalusia and Cordela, and settled them at Santa Domingo. These horses
were a mixture of Barb, Andalusian and Spanish Jennet. The Spanish Jennet not only possessed an
extremely comfortable saddle gait, but was able to pass the gait on to its offspring. The result of the
blending of these horses was to become known as the Paso Fino breed - Los Caballos de Paso Fino (the
horse with the fine step). They became the foundation stock for 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 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.
General Impression
The Paso Fino is born with a gait unique to the breed, and his attitude seems to transmit to the observer
that this horse knows his gait is a very special gift that must be executed with style and pride! The gait,
being totally natural, does not exhibit the catapulting or exaggerated leg action of man made gaits: rather
the movements are smooth, rhythmic, purposeful, straight, balanced in flexion and synchronous front to
rear, resulting in unequalled comfort and smoothness for the rider.
Head:The head 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.
Neck: 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.
Forehand: Shoulders are sloping into the withers with great depth through the heart. Chest is moderate in
width. Withers are defined but not pronounced and slope smoothly into the back.
Midsection: Moderate in length with a well-sprung rib cage. 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.
Hindquarters:Croup is slightly sloping with rounded hips, broad loins, and strong hocks. Tail is carried
gracefully when horse is in motion.
Legs: Straight with refined bones and strong, well defined tendons. 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. Hooves are well rounded, proportionate in size, and do not show excessive heel.
Mane, tail and forelock: 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: 13 to 15.2 hands with 13.3 to 14.2 being the most typical. Weight from 700 to 1100 lbs. Full size may not
be attained until the fifth year.
Color: Every equine color can be found, with or without white markings.
Disposition: 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 Paso Fino is a horse for all seasons, a horse for all climates, and a horse for diverse purposes. From
the Florida Keys to the Pacific Northwest, and from southern California to New England, Eastern Canada,
Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Europe, the Paso Fino demonstrated its remarkable versatility not just in the
show ring, but on competitive trail and endurance rides, in dressage work, rodeo, gymkana, and back at the
ranch working cattle. And he does it all with a gait that provides unparalleled comfort for the rider. The
energy-efficient Paso Fino, with its unexcelled versatility, and unique comfort for the rider, opens a New
World for horse lovers.
The Paso Fino is a naturally stylish horse. A good Paso Fino has a refined head, a long, proudly-carried
neck, and overall good saddle conformation. Mane, tail and forelock are kept as long, full and luxurious as
nature can provide. Although not as large as some breeds, he can carry a large rider comfortably for an
extended period of time. His legs and feet are exceptionally tough and many Paso Fino's need no shoeing.
There is no predominant color as all equine colors may be found.
Paso Fino's are a flashy, all-around, intelligent mount with the bonus of continuous comfort for the rider.
While the Paso Fino's great spirit is evident under saddle, his disposition allows even beginners to ride
with ease.
The gait is a lateral four beat footfall, providing a constant cadence. The rider should experience no up and
down movement of his head and shoulders, and no jolting or bumping from side to side. The gait is natural.
It is not uncommon for a newborn foal to be gaiting shortly after birth. The gait may be refined through
natural training methods, and no artificial training equipment is allowed.
The gait is an evenly-spaced four-beat lateral gait. Each foot contacts the ground independently in a regular
sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm The sequence of the footfall is right rear,
right fore, left rear, left fore. The cadence of 1, 2, 3, 4 beat is rhythmic with equal time intervals between
hoof beats. There is very little up and down movement in either the croup or the shoulders of the horse.
The motion of the horse is absorbed in its back and loins giving the rider unequaled comfort.
This gait is performed at three speeds with collection decreasing as speed increases. The speeds are
Classic Fino, Paso Corto and Paso Largo; descriptions of the gait are following. The Paso Fino's gait is
natural right from the start.
Classic Fino
This is the classic show ring gait, performed with the horse fully balanced and collected and demonstrating
a rapid, steady, unbroken rhythm of the hoofs and slow forward speed with animated action and symmetry
of motion.
Paso Corto
It is performed at medium speed with the horse moderately collected and with light contact on the bit. In its
relaxed form, the corto is an ideal trail and pleasure type gait. At its most elegant, it is snappily executed
and exciting to watch. It is the speed most preferred by the horse and rider alike.
Paso Largo
This is the speed form of the gait. It should be smooth, balanced, and elegant. The horse should move out
willingly and maintain the even 4-beat cadence. While it may be exciting to largo, the rider should never
allow the horse to become light on the front or strung out behind trying to go too fast. Any indication that
the horse might break to a canter should be immediately corrected.
Take the opportunity to get to know this unique and adaptable breed better. Perhaps you'll discover that
the Paso Fino would be "a natural" in you barn!
has proud ties to a glorious past and the prospect of an even greater future, as this elegant smooth-gaited
breed captures the hearts of horse lovers everywhere.
The Paso Fino is the oldest true native breed of horse in the Western Hemisphere.
Columbus discovered a horseless America. Although the ancestors of the present-day horse evolved and
developed in North America and spread to other parts of the world, horses vanished from the New World
during the Ice Age, between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago.
Nearly 500 years ago, on his second voyage from Spain, Columbus brought a select group of mares and
stallions from the provinces of Andalusia and Cordela, and settled them at Santa Domingo. These horses
were a mixture of Barb, Andalusian and Spanish Jennet. The Spanish Jennet not only possessed an
extremely comfortable saddle gait, but was able to pass the gait on to its offspring. The result of the
blending of these horses was to become known as the Paso Fino breed - Los Caballos de Paso Fino (the
horse with the fine step). They became the foundation stock for 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 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.
General Impression
The Paso Fino is born with a gait unique to the breed, and his attitude seems to transmit to the observer
that this horse knows his gait is a very special gift that must be executed with style and pride! The gait,
being totally natural, does not exhibit the catapulting or exaggerated leg action of man made gaits: rather
the movements are smooth, rhythmic, purposeful, straight, balanced in flexion and synchronous front to
rear, resulting in unequalled comfort and smoothness for the rider.
Head:The head 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.
Neck: 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.
Forehand: Shoulders are sloping into the withers with great depth through the heart. Chest is moderate in
width. Withers are defined but not pronounced and slope smoothly into the back.
Midsection: Moderate in length with a well-sprung rib cage. 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.
Hindquarters:Croup is slightly sloping with rounded hips, broad loins, and strong hocks. Tail is carried
gracefully when horse is in motion.
Legs: Straight with refined bones and strong, well defined tendons. 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. Hooves are well rounded, proportionate in size, and do not show excessive heel.
Mane, tail and forelock: 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: 13 to 15.2 hands with 13.3 to 14.2 being the most typical. Weight from 700 to 1100 lbs. Full size may not
be attained until the fifth year.
Color: Every equine color can be found, with or without white markings.
Disposition: 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 Paso Fino is a horse for all seasons, a horse for all climates, and a horse for diverse purposes. From
the Florida Keys to the Pacific Northwest, and from southern California to New England, Eastern Canada,
Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Europe, the Paso Fino demonstrated its remarkable versatility not just in the
show ring, but on competitive trail and endurance rides, in dressage work, rodeo, gymkana, and back at the
ranch working cattle. And he does it all with a gait that provides unparalleled comfort for the rider. The
energy-efficient Paso Fino, with its unexcelled versatility, and unique comfort for the rider, opens a New
World for horse lovers.
The Paso Fino is a naturally stylish horse. A good Paso Fino has a refined head, a long, proudly-carried
neck, and overall good saddle conformation. Mane, tail and forelock are kept as long, full and luxurious as
nature can provide. Although not as large as some breeds, he can carry a large rider comfortably for an
extended period of time. His legs and feet are exceptionally tough and many Paso Fino's need no shoeing.
There is no predominant color as all equine colors may be found.
Paso Fino's are a flashy, all-around, intelligent mount with the bonus of continuous comfort for the rider.
While the Paso Fino's great spirit is evident under saddle, his disposition allows even beginners to ride
with ease.
The gait is a lateral four beat footfall, providing a constant cadence. The rider should experience no up and
down movement of his head and shoulders, and no jolting or bumping from side to side. The gait is natural.
It is not uncommon for a newborn foal to be gaiting shortly after birth. The gait may be refined through
natural training methods, and no artificial training equipment is allowed.
The gait is an evenly-spaced four-beat lateral gait. Each foot contacts the ground independently in a regular
sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm The sequence of the footfall is right rear,
right fore, left rear, left fore. The cadence of 1, 2, 3, 4 beat is rhythmic with equal time intervals between
hoof beats. There is very little up and down movement in either the croup or the shoulders of the horse.
The motion of the horse is absorbed in its back and loins giving the rider unequaled comfort.
This gait is performed at three speeds with collection decreasing as speed increases. The speeds are
Classic Fino, Paso Corto and Paso Largo; descriptions of the gait are following. The Paso Fino's gait is
natural right from the start.
Classic Fino
This is the classic show ring gait, performed with the horse fully balanced and collected and demonstrating
a rapid, steady, unbroken rhythm of the hoofs and slow forward speed with animated action and symmetry
of motion.
Paso Corto
It is performed at medium speed with the horse moderately collected and with light contact on the bit. In its
relaxed form, the corto is an ideal trail and pleasure type gait. At its most elegant, it is snappily executed
and exciting to watch. It is the speed most preferred by the horse and rider alike.
Paso Largo
This is the speed form of the gait. It should be smooth, balanced, and elegant. The horse should move out
willingly and maintain the even 4-beat cadence. While it may be exciting to largo, the rider should never
allow the horse to become light on the front or strung out behind trying to go too fast. Any indication that
the horse might break to a canter should be immediately corrected.
Take the opportunity to get to know this unique and adaptable breed better. Perhaps you'll discover that
the Paso Fino would be "a natural" in you barn!
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