Peruvian Paso

The Peruvian Paso is a saddle horse that Peruvian breeders developed over several centuries. It is chiefly known for a smooth, evenly timed four-beat gait that comes naturally from birth rather than being taught. Riders value the breed for long hours in the saddle without the jarring bounce of a trotting horse, a quality that matters as much on a dusty farm track in India as it does on the Peruvian coast.

The breed brings together two qualities that do not usually go hand in hand. Under saddle it is spirited and forward, carrying the energy and willingness that Peruvian breeders term brio, yet on the ground it remains calm and good-natured to handle. A well-bred Peruvian Paso holds itself with an upright, proud head and neck.

The most distinctive feature of its movement is the termino, an outward rolling action of the front legs from the shoulder. This action is unique to the breed and gives the front legs a swimming-like sweep, while the hindquarters stay low and drive the horse forward.

Who it rewards

The Peruvian Paso suits riders after comfort over distance, such as trail riders and those who spend many hours in the saddle at a stretch. Its even temperament makes it manageable for riders who are not especially strong physically, though its spirited drive calls for a confident hand. In India, the breed also turns out well in the show ring and at parades, including events organised under Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) guidelines.

The breed traces back to horses that Spanish settlers shipped to South America in the sixteenth century. Spanish conquistadors began arriving in Peru from 1532 onward, bringing with them the Spanish Jennet, an ambling type famed for smooth lateral gaits, together with Barb and Andalusian stock.

Peru had none of the paved road networks that existed in Europe at the time, and large estates lay scattered across coastal valleys, deserts and mountainous terrain, not unlike the varied ground many Indian riders cover today, from open plains to hill country. Owners needed mounts that could carry them comfortably over long distances at a steady pace. Breeders selected, generation after generation, for the smooth four-beat gait, for stamina and for a willing nature.

For much of its history the breed was raised in relative isolation on Peruvian haciendas. With little outside crossbreeding, the gait became fixed and passed reliably to the foals. This long period of closed breeding is why the gait shows up naturally in almost every purebred Peruvian Paso.

Through the twentieth century the horse spread beyond Peru, and breeders in North America and elsewhere set up registries to record bloodlines. The Peruvian Paso is recognised as a national symbol of Peru. It should not be mistaken for the Paso Fino, a separate gaited breed that developed in other parts of Latin America.

The Peruvian Paso is a medium-sized, well-balanced horse built for stamina rather than height. It has a deep chest, strong sloping shoulders and rounded muscling that supports its sustained gait. The neck is fairly heavy and carried in an arch, and the head is medium in size with an expression breeders describe as alert and proud.

The mane and tail are fine and full, and the tail is set low and carried close to the body. Movement at the hindquarters is low and reaching, while the front legs show the rolling termino action that sets the breed apart.

Coat and colours

The Peruvian Paso comes in a wide range of solid colours along with some dilutes and roans. Bay and chestnut are common, and black, brown, grey, palomino and buckskin all occur. White markings on the face and legs are accepted. The coat itself is short and fine, while the mane, forelock and tail grow long and silky.

The Peruvian Paso is known for pairing brio with gentleness. Brio is the word Peruvian breeders use for the horse's forward energy, courage and readiness to keep going. Under saddle the horse is spirited and responsive, with a clear wish to move out.

On the ground and around people, the same horse is usually calm and good-natured. The breed forms a strong bond with its handlers and tends to be tractable and willing to please, which keeps day-to-day handling simple. With other horses it is generally social and settles well into a herd.

With strangers, a confident Peruvian Paso is usually alert rather than jumpy. Its dignified bearing is as much a part of its character as its conformation. The breed suits an owner who can channel its energy through consistent, fair handling.

Grooming

• Brush the body several times a week to keep the coat clean and the skin healthy.
• Comb and detangle the long mane and tail with care to prevent breakage.
• Pick out the hooves daily and check for stones, packed mud and signs of thrush, which turns up more often once the monsoon sets in.
• Bathe as needed and dry the legs properly to avoid skin trouble.
• Check the eyes, nostrils and skin during grooming for early signs of trouble.

Exercise

• Provide regular ridden or in-hand work to keep the horse fit and the gait clean.
• Daily turnout in a paddock or pasture supports both mind and body.
• Vary the work between trail outings and arena schooling to keep the horse interested.
• Build up conditioning gradually before longer rides, and favour the cooler hours of the day once the weather turns sultry.

Environment

The Peruvian Paso does well with access to pasture and a run-in shed or stable that gives shelter from strong sun, wind and rain. Across most of India that means shade and good ventilation to beat the heat and humidity, plus a dry, well-drained standing area once the monsoon arrives. The breed adapts to a range of climates given proper shelter and steady care. Company from other horses helps keep this social breed settled.

The foundation of the Peruvian Paso's diet is forage. Good-quality grass hay, chaffed dry fodder or grazing should make up the bulk of daily intake, roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight in forage each day. Many of these horses are efficient keepers, so concentrates go in only when work calls for the extra energy.

Fresh, clean water must be on hand at all times, along with a salt or mineral lick. Feed at consistent times and split larger rations into smaller meals to help digestion.

Treats and supplements

Small amounts of carrot or apple make suitable treats. A balanced vitamin and mineral supplement can help when forage alone falls short, and your vet can advise on additions for older horses or those in hard work. Bring in any feed change over a week or more.

The Peruvian Paso is a robust breed with a long working life. Many individuals stay sound and active into their twenties, and a lifespan of 25 to 30 years is typical with good care. The breed carries no single defining genetic disorder, but it shares the common health concerns of horses in general.

Routine veterinary care, attention to diet and good hoof management are the main factors in keeping these horses healthy across their long lives.

Preventive care

• Book annual or twice-yearly veterinary check-ups and core vaccinations.
• Deworm on a vet-guided parasite programme with regular faecal testing.
• Have teeth checked and floated at least once a year.
• Keep hooves trimmed every six to eight weeks.
• Watch body condition to prevent both obesity and underfeeding.

The Peruvian Paso is intelligent, willing and quick to bond with a trainer, which makes it responsive to patient handling. Since the four-beat gait is inborn, training does not create the gait but refines balance, rhythm and collection. The horse's brio gives it forward drive, so the work is mostly about directing that energy and building soft, consistent responses.

Groundwork builds trust and respect before and alongside ridden work. The breed responds poorly to harsh, forceful methods and far better to clear, fair and repeatable cues.

Basics

1. Begin with handling and groundwork to teach leading, standing and yielding.
2. Introduce tack and let the horse accept the rider's weight calmly, in short sessions.
3. Establish go, stop and steering at the walk before adding the gait.
4. Develop the natural gait with light contact and a steady rhythm.
5. Add transitions, lateral work and trail exposure as confidence builds.

Peruvian Paso horses reach physical maturity at around four to five years of age, though they are often not started under saddle until they are mature enough for the work. Mares are usually bred once well grown, and breeders select for sound conformation, a clean natural gait and good temperament.

Gestation lasts roughly 11 months, and the mare almost always carries a single foal. Twins are rare in horses and are generally unwelcome, since they carry high risk for both mare and foals. The newborn foal stands and nurses within the first hours of life.

A defining feature of the breed is that the gait breeds true. Because the trait has been fixed through centuries of closed breeding, purebred foals reliably show the smooth four-beat gait from a young age. Young horses are weaned, handled early to build trust, and brought along gradually towards saddle work as they mature.