Edition Nº 02, April 2007 Ayacucho Perú
The Paso Peruano horse (Peru)
A Special Breath

by: www.justacriollo.com and photos by jan kuijt



Ayacucho - Consideration of the breeding of the Peruvian Paso
A brief introduction
Because of its isolation for over 400 years, the Peruvian Paso horse has evolved as one of the purest breeds in the world and as a unique entity in the horse kingdom. The existence of this breed has been called the greatest triumph of genetic selection ever achieved by a group of breeders.
The modern day Peruvian horse descend from the horses introduced into Peru by the Spanish in the sixteenth-century. It is well documented that the Spanish Conquistadores brought with them both Hacks (amblers) and Chargers (trotters) of the same breed to the New World, and as recorded in the Archieves of the Indios, the Spanish Horse was a breed consisting of Galitian (Celtic) horses of the North, Sorraia, and Barb of Marroco. The Peruvian Horse is a hotblood, a purebred Spanish horse that was selectively bred for the amble after reaching the shores of Peru. No outside blood has been introduced into the Peruvian breed. Selective breeding coupled with such factors as climate and forage, served to modify succeeding generations and create a new breed which possess characteristics different from those of any other horse in the world.

llano de paso
The trademark of this breed is a special, inherited, and completely natural four beat lateral gait called paso llano. The pasollano is a broken gait. It consist of a permanent, harmonic, and rhythmic tapping in which the animal makes a gentle and pleasant alternating movement. It is a quick advance in which the center of the horse's gravity stays almost immobile, producing a smooth ride.
Thanks to its unique, inborn, four beat lateral gait, the Peruvian Paso horse is undoubtedly the smoothest riding horse in the world.
The paso llano is executed with a distinctive action in the front legs, called termino, a graceful, flowing movement in which the forelegs are rolled towards the outside as the horse strides forward, much like the arm motion of a swimmer. Termino is a spectacular and beautiful natural action. It is not a wing or paddle and originates in the shoulder giving the horse the ability to swing the leg forward with minimum vertical force back. Both the gait and the flashy leg action are transmitted 100% to the offspring.
A major principle with Peruvian breeders is that great Peruvian horses are born - not trained. Training is designed to bring out the animal's inherent ability but not modify it artificially.
To help insure retention of completely natural action and gait, no horse is allowed in the show ring with shoes or with hooves longer than 4 inches. All Peruvian breeders use basically the same training methods and equipment so that no advantage is gained through artificial devices or aids.

Breeding
Peruvian Paso horses come in all basic, solid colors as well as greys and roans. The average height of the Peruvian is between 14 and 15.3 hands (1.42 -1.54 m.) and the weight is commonly between 900 and 1.100 pounds..about the same as Morgans and Arabians. Peruvian Paso horses come in all basic, solid colors as well as greys and roans. The average height of the Peruvian is between 14 and 15.3 hands (1.42 -1.54 m.) and the weight is commonly between 900 and 1.100 pounds..about the same as Morgans and Arabians. Today's Peruvian Paso horse is the result of 400-plus years of highly selective breeding. The breed is said to combine qualities which may be considered 'contradictory'. He is very high spirited - yet easy to handle and loose and relaxed in his movements. He has sparkling, brilliant action in the forelegs - yet he is extremely smooth and sure-footed. He has a finess of build - yet he is powerful. This has been accomplished due to the intelligence, love, and devotion of innumerable breeders (many anonymous). Their arduous and silent work has made the Peruvian Paso horse one of the country's greatest treasures and a unifying source for its people.
   

Characteristics of the Paso Peruano breed

Breed Paso Peruano
Origin Peru, but found all over the world.
Height at the withers 14 ¼ to 15 ½ hands (1,42 to 1,54m)
Build Middle length
Colors All varieties
Character Calm and alert
Capacity Saddle horse
Qualities Alert, resistant and hard working
   
 
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