Paso Fino Horses

The Story

of the Paso Fino Horse

According to legend, when Christopher Columbus made his second journey to the New World, he brought with him twenty horses – including five mares – that would become the Paso Fino’s founding stock. These horses, which were intended to serve as mounts for the Conquistadors, included Barbs, Andalusians, and Spanish Jennets. Later, more horses were introduced to the Caribbean by Juan Ponce de León, adding to the Paso Fino’s lineage.

Unbeknownst to the Conquistadors, the Paso Fino (Spanish for “fine gait”) would ultimately come to embody the best traits of all three of its ancestral breeds: From the Jennet, a now-extinct breed of light riding horse, the Paso Fino inherited its famously smooth four-beat gait. At the same time, the Paso Fino retained the Barb’s hardiness and stamina, along with the proud carriage and long, flowing mane and tail of the Andalusian.

As Spanish land owners settled Puerto Rico and Colombia, they came to prize the Paso Fino for its endurance, friendly temperament, surefootedness, and above all else, its uniquely comfortable ride. Because the Paso Fino doesn’t trot, instead moving all four of its feat in a quick, synchronized pattern not found in any other horse breed, they don’t cause the rider to “bounce” in the saddle. This attribute was essential to men working on large ranches and plantations, who often spent all day on horseback. As such, the Paso Fino was selectively bred to retain and enhance this four-beat gait, creating the horse we know today.
Over time, the Paso Fino’s popularity soared, and the breed spread throughout Latin America. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the Paso Fino began to gain recognition in the United States, after American servicemen brought them back from Puerto Rico following World War 2. Two decades later, another strain of Paso Fino was introduced from Colombia, and the two lines were combined to create the American Paso Fino. Several American horse breeds, such as the Morgan, Tennessee Walking Horse, and American Saddle Horse, were crossbred with Paso Finos to increase the horse’s height and improve its conformation. Today, breeders also strive to preserve the purity of the Colombian and Puerto Rican Paso Fino lineages by breeding the two lines separately.
In addition to having a distinct gait, the Paso Fino is the only horse in the world to sometimes have “tiger’s eyes,” as they carry a recessive gene that can turn the iris of the eye yellow, amber or orange. This, along with their flowing manes and tails and wide range of possible coat colours and patterns, makes them some of the most beautiful and striking horses in the world.
Though Paso Finos are still used for ranch work, they truly shine in the disciplines of competitive trail riding, endurance competitions, and showing. They can also be seen competing in Western classes, such as barrel racing and team penning. With their friendly, responsive natures and comfortable gait, they’re a versatile horse that excels both in the show ring and at home, where they’re the ideal companion and pleasure riding horse.

Paso Fino

Breed Standards

The Paso Fino’s Spanish heritage should be immediately recognizable by virtue of the horse’s proud carriage, elegant proportions, refined head, and long, luxurious mane and tail. Modern Paso Finos are small to medium-sized horses with excellent conformation, being strong for their size while retaining a graceful, balanced appearance. They should not look bulky or overly muscular.

The Paso Fino’s most defining characteristic is its unique gait, which is not seen in any other horse breed. Paso Finos are born with an even, four-beat gait, inherited from the now-extinct Spanish Jennet, which gives them their famously smooth ride. Unlike man-made gaits, which appear exaggerated and artificial, the Paso Fino’s gait is flowing and natural. When you watch a Paso Fino in action, you’ll immediately notice how rhythmic, purposeful, and balanced its gait is, with each foot moving in perfect harmony.

Strong, graceful, and agile, the Paso Fino is a favourite on the trail and in the show ring. This breed’s calm, willing, and friendly nature also makes them the perfect companion horse.

Size: Standard height for a Paso Fino is 13 to 15.2 hands, with 14 hands being considered their average height. They typically weigh between 700 to 1000 pounds and achieve full size around five years of age.

Colour: All colours are considered acceptable for the Paso Fino, including patterns (such as pinto colouration) and white markings.

Temperament: The ideal Paso Fino is a friendly, willing horse that strives to please its rider. Considered a good family horse, the Paso Fino should be gentle, responsive, and easy to handle. At the same time, these horses should demonstrate high spirits and intelligence.

Mane, Tail, and Forelock: The Paso Fino’s Spanish heritage should be fully evident in its mane and tail, which are very long, full, and luxurious. The horse’s mane and tail may not be enhanced with artificial extensions.

Head: The head should be refined, with a straight profile and a defined jaw, and in good proportion with the rest of the body. The Paso Fino should have large, wide-set, expressive eyes and an alert, intelligent face.

Neck: The Paso Fino’s neck is of medium length and strong but gracefully arched, allowing the horse to carry its head high.

Forehand: The Paso Fino has sloping, powerful shoulders and a deep chest.

Midsection: The back should be of medium length and well-muscled, with a top line that’s shorter than the underline.

Hindquarters: The croup slopes gently, and the quarters should be strong and rounded, with robust hocks. The tail should be carried high and gracefully when the horse is in motion.

Legs: The Paso Fino’s legs should be straight with refined bones and well-formed, defined tendons. Their forearms are typically long with shorter cannons. Their thighs and gaskins are powerful and muscular but not overly large or exaggerated.