Paso Fino

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Colombian Paso Fino riding during the Feria de las Flores in Medellín, Colombia.

The Paso Fino is a beautiful, naturally-gaited horse with a history dating back many centuries to Spain. The Paso Fino is a mix of the Barb, Spanish Jennet, and Andalusian horse and was bred by Spanish land owners in Puerto Rico and Colombia to be used in the plantations because of their endurance and the comfortable ride they provided. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino has several different body types from quite small and refined to very large and powerful. The Colombian Paso Fino is also found in varying body types. The action of the two strains is somewhat different with the Pure Puerto Rican Paso fino prized for it's fine or delicate step while the Colombian Paso fino tends to have more of a piston-like action. All Pasos share their heritage with the American Mustangs, which are also descendants of Spanish horses. The two strains as well as paso finos from Cuba and other tropical countries have been interbred frequently to produce today's American Paso Fino show horse.

The rise of the Paso Fino in the United States began in the 1950s and 1960s, and today, the Paso Fino Horse Association oversees and regulates registered Paso Finos there.

Its aficionados claim that the Paso Fino is the smoothest riding horse in the world because of its natural, even, four beat gait that can be performed at varying speeds. The classic fino is a collected gait with rapid footfall that covers little ground but is showy. The paso corto is a moderate gait good for trail riding, and the paso largo is a fast gait in which the horse can reach speeds equivalent to a canter or slow gallop. Not all Paso Finos can perform the classic fino, but the majority perform the other gaits with ease. These horses are versatile and can be used for trail riding, endurance riding, or in the show ring. This is a lively horse that has a natural drive and willingness, known colloquially as "brio", and generally a nice disposition.

In Colombia there are other native horses who perform a slightly different, unevenly timed four beat gait, namely: trocha. Another Colombian horse performs what is known as trote-and-galope. The trocha gait is an uneven, diagonal four beat gait which is also very smooth. The trote and galope horses perform an exaggerated diagonal two beat trot and a very collected canter but they do share some common heritage with the paso fino. Not as known as Paso Fino, these modalities are just beginning to be recognized in the United States.

The first paso finos in the United States were imported from Puerto Rico by members of the armed services who were stationed in Puerto Rico and purchased paso finos while living there. Rather than sell these amazing horses when they left, they brought them back with them and this stock provided some of the first paso finos bred in the United States. Later a rancher went to Colombia and purchased quite a number of Colombian paso fino horses to work his cattle. This added the second strain of paso fino and while the two strains are still bred to retain their purity, they are also mixed to produce the best of both in this country.

Paso Finos are now becoming popular in Europe, predominantly Germany and Switzerland. Paso Finos were first imported in the United Kingdom in 1996 and now number in excess of 60.

The correctness of the gait is very important by today's standards, therefore horses with a very even four beat gait are much preferred for professional breeding.

Paso finos come in a variety of colors, sizes and body types but the even four beat gait and the brio are present in all good representatives of the breed.