It is a breed of naturally smooth-gaited riding horses originating in Peru, South America that dates back 500 years. They were bred for their unique gait, stamina, beauty, and great willing dispositions.
The Spanish brought Andalusians (with Spanish/North African Barb blood) and the Spanish Jennet (a smooth-gaited riding horse of the old world) and carefully blended these in Peru to create the Peruvian Paso Horse-designated a "National Treasure" in Peru.
The Peruvian Paso is a very smooth and comfortable riding horse - naturally. They are used for pleasure riding, shows, parades, exhibitions, and on trails. Some are being used very successfully in competitive endurance rides and others for pulling carriages in shows and parades. Their good dispositions make them a pleasure to work with.
Height: 14.1 to 15.1 hands with some individuals over or under this average.
Weight: 900 to 1,100 pounds, on average.
Color: "Every color you have ever seen, and a few you haven't." Solid colors prevail. Bay, chestnut, gray, roan, palomino, black, etc. (Rarely pintos, no appaloosas.)
Appearance: Large eyes, long mane and tail, good solid body, strong, yet refined legs, high headset (proud) when in action, rounded croup and low tail set.
"Termino": The natural showy outward rolling of the front limbs when the horse is moving foreword. Pasos are born with this characteristic. It is not "winging" or "paddling" which come from conformational faults.
Rancho Paso Peruvians in Nevada, Iowa, north of Des Moines has fourteen purebred Peruvian Pasos. Lynne Brookes,the owner, has been riding, breeding, importing, training and showing Peruvian Pasos for over 30 years. She lived in Peru from 1969 until 1972 where she "discovered" this exciting breed of horse and then imported a number of them into the United States. You would be most welcome to visit the ranch! To make an appointment call Lynne at (515) 434-2028 or e-mail her at rppsolar@yahoo.com. You can also view them at www.rpperuvians.com.
Definitely! It is an increasingly popular breed with growing demand. Breeding fine horses is not only pleasurable and profitable, but there are tax advantages as well.
