Peruvian Pasos

The Peruvian Paso is truly a unique breed of horse, but only during the past twenty years has it become known in the United States and Canada. In Peru, they have cherished and selectively bred them for centuries.

The ancestors of the present-day Peruvian horse came from Spain and were of Andalusian, Friesian, Barb and Spanish Jennet blood. These horses were largely credited by historians with the fall of the centuries-old Inca empire as they gave the Conquistadors a distinct advantage over the natives. Horses were reportedly so valuable that many were shod with silver.

The owners of Peru's large haciendas had vast territories to cover which could only be covered sufficiently by horseback. Since frequently this required eight to ten hours in saddle, it was desirable that they have a horse of easy tractability and smoothness of ride. Generations of strict selection have genetically fixed those traits of a fast horse with smooth gaits and the breed can guarantee one hundred percent transmission of its gait to all pure bred foals. A major principle with Peruvian breeders is that the great Peruvian horses are born, not trained. To help insure retention of completely natural action and gait, no horse is allowed in the show ring with hooves longer than four inches.

The gait of the Peruvian Horse is a broken pace which gives the rider neither the vertical movement of the trot, nor the lateral motion of the pace. It is undoubtedly the smoothest ride in the horse world. Another "trademark" characteristic of the Peruvian Horse is "termino", or the outward rolling of the front limb during extension. This action gives the Peruvian Paso horse the appearance of always being "on parade", and also is completely natural and originates in the shoulder giving the horse the ability to swing the leg forward with minimum or vertical force to the back. As a strict culling, the Peruvian Horse is intelligent, tractable and eager to please. However, he has retained the presence and arrogance of his war horse ancestors. The modern day Peruvian Paso horse still "travels like a conqueror".

The Peruvian Paso comes in all basic colors. They boast a long, luxurious mane and tail. Size ranges from 14 - 15 1/2 hands and weight between 900 to 1,100 pounds.

The Peruvian Paso combines the world's smoothest gait with the most spectacularly stylish action known in the equine breeds. It is an animal or refined beauty with strength to cover many miles a day; year after year. These are the qualities genetically locked in by centuries of selection.

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