Brief History and Breed Information on the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horse:
The Paso Fino's history began in Puerto Rico. The name Paso Fino was originally given in Puerto Rico to mean Paso
- way of moving and Fino - delicateness. The Paso Fino horse rich heritage came with the mixing of Andulusians, Spanish
Barb, and the Spanish Jennett (also known in Puerto Rico as the Jaca or Haca horse) which the Spanish Explorers brought to
the new world in the early 1500's. Over the years, isolation and careful breeding in Puerto Rico and the protection
of the Paso Fino from extinction maintains the characteristics of this magnificent breed. In the 1940's, Paso Finos
were introduced in the United States by servicemen returning from WWII after being stationed in Puerto Rico. The mixing
of the paso fino horse from Puerto Rico almost brought the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horse into extinction. Since
1998, interest in the preservation of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino has been growing in the United States.
What is the distinction between the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino and other breeds whether similar or not?
The natural, lateral four beat gait produces the distinctive smooth ride. The foot fall of the Pure Puerto Rican
Paso Fino is lateral. The lateral movement produces an action that keeps the rider comfortable while riding. The
differences of comfort between the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino and other breeds is what sets this wonderful breed apart.
Gaits of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino:
The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed naturally exhibits 3 gaits (largo, corto and fino).
Paso Largo - is the fastest of the speed of the gaits. The largo is longer extension and stride with natural gait.
Paso Corto - Forward speed is moderate, ground covering unhurried, executed with medium extension and stride.
Classic Paso Fino - Forward speed is slow and the footfall is fast and delicate (not hard) while the steps and extension
are extremely short and execution fully collected. In some similar breeds the gait is too rapid and too hard and miss
the delicateness of the paso fino classic movement.
The gait of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is natural and not trained. The training of the Pure Puerto Rican
Paso Fino is to perfect the gait and not to change it.
