| When Christopher Columbus landed in the New | | | | trot. It's a moderate speed, yet allows one to |
| World in 1492, he found a continent without | | | | cover a good distance in leisurely fashion. Because |
| horses. After returning to Spain, upon his return | | | | of the smoothness of the stride, both horse and |
| to the Americas, he brought back mares and | | | | riders can go for hours tirelessly.Paso Largo - this |
| stallions from Andalusia and Cordela. These horses | | | | is a faster speed with a longer stride. The actual |
| were a mixture of Andalusian, Barb, and the | | | | speed is different for each horse because it will |
| now-extinct Spanish Jennet. The resulting offspring | | | | reach its top speed in natural coordination with its |
| of this mixture was a horse with a very smooth | | | | tempo and stride.Description and |
| and comfortable gait suitable for the varied | | | | ConformationThe Paso Fino's colors run the |
| terrains of the New World. Because of a trait | | | | gamut of the equine color range. There is no one |
| contributed by the Jennet, of passing the most | | | | defining color assigned to this breed as being |
| desirable characteristics along to its offspring, the | | | | necessary for it being registered as a purebred |
| horse quickly became favored by the | | | | horse and they can be with, or without, white |
| Conquistadors. This was the founding stock of the | | | | markings.This breed ranges in height from 13 to |
| Paso Fino breed. The breed established a place in | | | | 15.2 hands (52 to 60.8 in,. or 132 to 154 cm.), with |
| the history of Western Civilization, being cited as | | | | the most typical being 13.3 to 14.2 hands (53.2 to |
| instrumental in the conquest, exploration, and | | | | 56.8 in., or 135 to 144.2 cm.), which is considered |
| development of the Americas.Over the 500 years | | | | small to average height for a horse. The weight |
| since the introduction of the founding stock in the | | | | ranges from 700 to 1100 pounds (49.7 to 78.1 |
| Western Hemisphere, the Paso Fino has been | | | | stones). The full size of the Paso Fino may not be |
| selectively bred and refined. And although they | | | | reached until it is five years of age.The Paso Fino |
| can be found elsewhere Peru, in South America, | | | | is often described as being of noble appearance. |
| claims the most famous and purest bloodlines of | | | | The immediate impression that one has is that of |
| this breed.The most outstanding characteristic | | | | power, grace, and overall athletic balance in this |
| which makes the Paso Fino unique is the pattern | | | | horse. Its mane and tail are luxurious and flowing. |
| and even cadence of its instinctual 1-2-3-4 gait. | | | | The neck is sinuous, arched, and muscular. The |
| The hoofbeats are individually and distinctly heard | | | | shoulders are well-defined, but not prominent. The |
| as the horse moves. The movement is smooth | | | | back is short and connects with slightly sloped |
| and lateral, rather than diagonal. The rider feels | | | | hindquarters. The legs appear short, but powerful. |
| very little, if any, up-and-down movement when | | | | The breed is naturally sure-footed with extremely |
| the horse is in motion. This most unusual gait is | | | | durable hooves. Unless the horse is habitually used |
| performed at three speeds:Classic Fino - Used for | | | | on rock or hard surfaces, it is rarely shod.This |
| show purposes only, this is the same forward | | | | beautiful breed of horse possesses a natural |
| speed as a slow walk. The horse is collected and | | | | affection, is very intelligent, and is built for hard |
| balanced. Watching the leg motion is | | | | work. It performs well in gaited events, for |
| fascinating.Paso Corto - this is similar in speed to a | | | | showing, trail riding, and for pleasure riding. |