Horses : PASO FINO

Origin : Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic. 

Australian Status:

International Status: popular in its home country.

Arrived in Australia:

Australian Population: less than 20 breeding mares, more likely closer to 15 and 3 stallions. Many thanks to Chris Bahlo for supplying us with the current numbers. - 2020

History: The name Paso Fino means "fine step" - because most of the breed are naturally gaited. They were bred for travelling and the gait is quite fast while being very comfortable. As with palfreys, women who are pregnant, doctors, postmen, the clergy, people carrying loads etc., can thus travel in comfort and safety and loads are not liable to be shaken off or broken from jarring. A farmer can inspect his stock at a good rate without becoming saddle sore.  The strong tendons absorb the action and cushion the ride. Gaited horses are this way due to a genetic mutation, DMRT3, that causes them to gait naturally.

An upstanding little horse with a good neck, the head held high, the under muscle of the neck often being well developed as in many breeds traditionally ridden with the head up in severe bits. 

They are descended from Spanish horses of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Spain was known for its gaited Jennet breed, which became the gaited palfreys of Europe and Britain, in turn becoming the gaited Hobies of Ireland and Galloways of Scotland (both breeds now extinct). Lines of these went into the early Thoroughbred, thence the Standardbred, an American breed, in the days before racing hobbles, when pacing was valued as a speedy gait for travelling and racing. Ironically, after hobbles came in, the natural pacing lines such as the Billy Direct line were bred out. Hence both North and South America got gaited lines in their colonial days which led to several gaited breeds being formed such as the Paso Fino, and all trace directly or indirectly, to Spain.

The Paso Fino were developed from 1493 when C. Columbus brought horses into the Caribbean, soon followed by many other Spanish invaders such as Cortez with horses; over a century or more. They remained fairly much in isolation once Spanish imports stopped. A strong line with the favoured gaits was bred on and developed over hundreds of years. As well as being ideal for travel, they look good and great pride is taken in the breed in their countries of origin. Puerto Rico is regarded as their home, where the first registry started in 1943, although they were bred in the other areas from early times too. Originally used for riding, transporting goods and farm work, a strong, active, all round utility horse. Strong backs, as they were smallish horses often ridden for hours by big men. In Columbia there is another gait called the trocha which is like the fox-trot of the Missouri Foxtrotters. This gait is undesirable in other lines however. Willing and spirited, they are nonetheless very tractable and aim to please, the sort of horse that makes the rider look good. As the build of trotters, pacers and gaited horses is that of a good jumper, they would be good at jumping, however their purpose is a gaited riding horse.

Breed traits: Handsome upstanding breed. Naturally gaited. Height: 13hh to 15.2hh although most about 13hh to 14.2hh range. All colours except spotted are seen. Types vary within the breed, from fine to stocky. 

The gaits are all four beat as each leg hits the ground independently - named the paso fino, paso corto, and paso largo. The corto is the medium speed hence comfortable and has a look of going uphill as the back legs are brought under for power and the front end is lightened. The fino is delighted in at shows, over a hard surface so the footfalls are clearly heard - the four beats of the hooves making an impressive staccato - the fino is exceedingly fast in leg action, but like the passage, hardly goes anywhere, it's all show, the horse is very collected. The extreme version is the Classic Fino and the hooves sound like a drum roll, the neck is upright, flexed only at the poll and the head is vertical in collection. Not all can do the Classic Fino, those that can are highly prized. The largo is the fast version, ideal for travelling being equivalent to a slowish gallop in speed, and also comfortable. The largo should show excellent extension.

The rider sits securely with long stirrups as rising is not needed, and even ridden bareback the Paso Fino is easy to ride and comfortable while one sits in a natural position with the legs long. Needless to say they can walk naturally, too. Most can also trot, canter and gallop if required.

Strong, correct legs, joints and strong well-formed tendons. Strong hooves. Full mane and tail. The gaits are neither lateral nor diagonal, being like the natural walk -  left hind, left front, right hind, right front. Strong back and loins, good quarters, good defined shoulder. An intelligent breed that tries hard for its owner.

Uses: Riding, endurance, harness, games.

Breed Organisation:  The Australian registry for Paso Fino horses is UAHA (United Australian Horses of Americas) https://horsesofamericas.com/ . Some horses are registered with PFHA (USA). Thank you to Chris Bahlo for this year's census figures. Chris has several Paso Finos.

Additional Notes:

Photo: Paso Fino stallion, Reverende de United (Imp.USA). Photo by Amber of Amber F Photographer and kindly supplied by Chris Bahlo.

                                                                                                                                                                                              Page by Janet Lane

(population and photo updated 20/03/2020 by A.Y)

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