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Peruvian Paso
History
The ancestors of today's 'Caballo Peruano de Paso' were Spanish horses, Andalusians, Jenettes and Barbs, brought to the New World by the Spanish conquerors. In 1531 Francisco Pizarro took about 60 horses bred from these first imports on his expedition to what is known today as Peru. Both success in breeding and further imports amplified this modest number. In 1536, only five years after Pizarro's journey, the Spanish are said to have lost 200 horses in the battle of Cuzco. The conditions in Peru, a land extending from sea level to an elevation of more than 4000 meters and from tropical coasts to deserts to steep valleys in the Andes, created an extremely hardy and versatile breed. The Peruvian Paso was always a working horse, used to oversee large plantations or to travel between farms and villages. Therefore, surefootedness, stamina, a soft gait and 'brio' became the main selection criteria. For several centuries, generations of breeders in Peru have contributed to maintain and improve this outstanding breed. |
 Reina Real and Rizalito at Narrawin |
Characteristics
 Capoeira BSN at Olivaylle |
The
Peruvian Paso can't deny its relationship to the Spanish breeds. The
fine,
chiseled head, square body and long silky mane and tail give the
Peruvian a noble appearance. Peruvian Pasos are between about 140 and
150cm (14 and 15 hands) tall, with long, sloping, free shoulder for
good termino, deep heart girth and a rounded croup. Solid colours with
dark skin are traditional, and excessive white markings or pink skin
undesirable. The most notable and yet most difficult to describe trait of the Peruvian Paso is his 'brio'. Brio includes the Peruvian's energy, spirit, noble attitude and vibrancy, but also his willingness and trainability. Two Peruvian sayings sum up the philosophy behind this breed: 'A good horse is bred, not trained' and: 'A good horse is ashamed to be corrected' |
Gaits
|
The most distinctive characteristic of the
Peruvian Paso is his termino, an
elegant
outward-forward movement of the front limbs during extension. Termino
originates in a loose shoulder and continues through the knee and
fetlock,
resulting in the foot being smoothly brought forward in a lateral arc
before setting
down squarely on the ground.
Paso Llano: The even four-beat of the Peruvian Paso, paso llano, is usually somewhat slower than comparable gaits in other breeds. However, due to the Peruvian’s termino it is said to be the smoothest ride of all, since termino allows the horse to extend forward freely without transmitting the vertical force to his back and therefore to the rider. Sobreandando: The lateral four-beat gait
of the Peruvian Paso, usually executed at a higher speed than paso
llano, is called sobreandando.
|
 Paso Llano:
Capoeira
BSN
at Olivaylle |
Problems
Two problems seem to plague the
Peruvian Paso breed: long, weak pasterns and degenerative suspensory
ligament desmitis (DSLD), a progressive condition with inflamation,
thickening and hardening of the suspensory ligaments. Although DSLD is
recognised in various
breeds, both gaited and non-gaited, it is said to have a higher
prevalence
in Peruvians. Interestingly, DSLD appears to mainly affect Peruvians bred in the US.
Breeders
in Oz and NZ
Narrawin
Stud: http://www.users.bigpond.com/narrawin/
Olivaylle: http://olivaylle.com.au/
Sharon's Paddlers: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/spanishhorses/studs/sharonspaddlers.shtml (NZ)
Olivaylle: http://olivaylle.com.au/
Sharon's Paddlers: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/spanishhorses/studs/sharonspaddlers.shtml (NZ)
Links
Asociación Nacional de Criadores y Propietarios
de Caballos Peruanos de Paso: http://www.ancpcpp.org.pe/
(in Spanish)
Caballos de Paso Peruano: http://www.yachay.com.pe/especiales/caballos/ (in Spanish)
Peruvian Paso Horse Registry of North America: http://www.pphrna.org/
Paso Peruano Vereinigung eV: http://www.paso-peruano.de (in German)
Paso Club International: http://www.pasoclubinternational.com (in German)
Perol Chico's 'Riding the Peruvian Paso': http://www.perolchico.com/english/ridingperuvianpaso.html
Conquistador's 'The Peruvian Paso': http://www.conquistador.com/peruvian_paso.html
BooksCaballos de Paso Peruano: http://www.yachay.com.pe/especiales/caballos/ (in Spanish)
Peruvian Paso Horse Registry of North America: http://www.pphrna.org/
Paso Peruano Vereinigung eV: http://www.paso-peruano.de (in German)
Paso Club International: http://www.pasoclubinternational.com (in German)
Perol Chico's 'Riding the Peruvian Paso': http://www.perolchico.com/english/ridingperuvianpaso.html
Conquistador's 'The Peruvian Paso': http://www.conquistador.com/peruvian_paso.html
Albright,
Verne R.: The
Peruvian Paso and His Classic Equitation; Caballus Publishers (1975); ISBN
0-912-83013-1
Luna de la Fuente, Carlos: The Peruvian Horse; http://www.peruviantack.com/books.html
How to Tack a Peruvian Horse; http://www.peruviantack.com/books2.html
How to Train a Peruvian Horse; http://www.peruviantack.com/books3.html
Luna de la Fuente, Carlos: The Peruvian Horse; http://www.peruviantack.com/books.html
How to Tack a Peruvian Horse; http://www.peruviantack.com/books2.html
How to Train a Peruvian Horse; http://www.peruviantack.com/books3.html