Peruvian Paso 170761 225356953 2008-07-13T07:18:32Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags or general fixes [[Image:MANTEQUILLA and ROY MASON 236x272.jpg|thumb|250px|A Peruvian Paso stallion.]] The '''Peruvian Paso''' or '''Peruvian Horse''' is a [[list of horse breeds|breed]] of light pleasure saddle horse known for its smooth [[horse gait|gaits]]. It is distinguished by a natural, four-beat, lateral gait called the ''paso llano'' that is noted for its smoothness and harmony of movement. ==History== Smooth-gaited horses, generally known as [[Palfrey]]s, existed in the [[Middle Ages]], and the [[Jennet]] in particular was noted for its [[ambling]] gaits.<ref>Bennett, Deb. (1998). ''Conquerors: The Roots of New World Horsemanship,'' First Edition, Amigo Publications. ISBN 0-9658533-0-6</ref> Peruvian Pasos trace their [[foundation bloodstock|ancestry]] to these ambling Jennets; as well as to the [[Barb (horse)|Barb]], which contributed strength and stamina; and to the [[Andalusian horse|Andalusian]] which added style, conformation and action.<ref name="IMH">[http://www.imh.org/museum/breeds.php?pageid=8&breed=73&alpha=Four "Peruvian Paso." ''Horse Breeds of the World,'' International Museum of the Horse.] Accessed July 4, 2008</ref><ref>Albright, Verne. [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/peruvianpaso/index.htm "Peruvian Paso"]. Oklahoma State University. Accessed July 03, 2008.</ref> Horses arrived in [[South America]] during the [[Spanish Conquest]], particularly after 1542, when the Spanish created the Viceroyalty of New Castilla. This later became the [[Viceroyalty of Peru]], an important center of Spain's [[New World]] colonies in the eighteenth century. Once in [[Peru]], they were used primarily for transportation and [[horse breeding|breeding]] stock. In the north of Peru, the vast size of sugar and cotton [[plantation]]s meant that overseers needed to travel long distances, often taking days to cross the plantation. In the south of Peru, the arid deserts that separated settlements required sturdy, strong horses. In both cases, smooth-gaited horses with good endurance were required. On the other hand, Peru did not develop a livestock-based economy, and thus did not need to breed for the speed or agility characteristic of [[stock horse]]s. Over time, Peruvian breeders kept the bloodlines clean and selectively bred primarily for [[horse gait|gait]], [[equine conformation|conformation]], and temperament. They wanted strong, hardy animals that were comfortable to ride and easy to control. Over four centuries, their dedication to breeding only the best gaited bloodstock resulted in the modern Peruvian Paso. A decline in the use of the Peruvian Paso horse was seen in the southern part of Peru in the early 1900s, following the building of major highways that allowed motor travel to replace the use of the horse. Many of the major breeders in the area gave their best horses away to peasants living in the nearby ''quebradas'' (valleys). It was in one of these quebradas that breeder Gustavo de la Borda found the horse that was to become the most important modern sire in the breed, Sol de Oro (Viejo).<ref>[http://www.peruvian-pasos.com/horses.html Sol De Oro]</ref> The Peruvian Paso continued to flourish in the northern regions because it was still needed for transportation on the [[hacienda]]s. This changed with the harsh Agrarian Reforms instituted by the government of [[Juan Velasco Alvarado]] in the late 1960s that had a devastating effect on the Peruvian Paso horse within Peru. Major breeding operations were broken up and breeding stock was lost. Because interest in the Peruvian Paso horse was growing in the United States and Central America at the same time, many of the finest Peruvian Paso horses were exported, leading to a period where it appeared the Peruvian Paso horse would fade in its homeland. The past thirty years have seen a resurgence in the Peruvian Paso horse's fortune in Peru. The annual National Show in Lima is a major event in Peruvian cultural life. The Peruvian Paso has been declared a ''Patrimonio Cultural'' (Cultural Heritage) of Peru in an attempt to shore up the breed within the country. There are now laws in place that restrict the export of national champion horses. Peruvian Paso horses are noted internationally for their good temperament and comfortable ride. As of 2003, there are approximately 25,000 horses worldwide, used for pleasure riding, [[trail riding|trail]], [[horse show]]s, [[parade horse|parades]], and [[endurance riding]].<!--added from different section, fits better to keep all info about chronology together--> ==Characteristics== ===Appearance=== The horse is medium sized, usually standing between 14.1 and 15.2 [[hand (length)|hands]] tall, with an elegant yet powerful build.<ref name="IMH"/> The Peruvian horse has a deep chest, heavy neck and body with substance without any trace of being hound gutted in the flank area. A low set, quiet tail, clamped tightly between the buttocks is a vital quality. A low set, quiet tail, clamped tightly between the buttocks is a vital quality. [[Stallion]]s have a broader chest and larger neck than [[mare (horse)|mares]],<ref>[http://www.losamigoshorseclub.com/images/orion.jpg Peruvian Paso Stallion Conformation Photo]</ref>and are known for their quality temperament.<!--no need to add extra verbiage, but statement needs to match ref (photo in ref doesn't note temperament, hence clause not related is placed after comma--> The [[equine coat color|coat color]] can be varied; and is seen in [[chestnut (coat)|chestnut]], [[black (horse)|black]], [[bay (horse)|bay]], [[bay (horse)|brown]], [[buckskin (horse)|buckskin]], [[palomino]], [[gray (horse)|gray]], [[roan (color)|roan]] or [[dun gene|dun]]. Solid colors, grays and dark skin are considered the most desirable. The [[mane (horse)|mane]] and forelock are lustrous, fine and abundant. [[Horse markings|White markings]] are acceptable on the legs and face.<ref name="IMH"/> ===Gait=== Instead of a [[trot]], the Peruvian Paso performs an [[ambling]] four beat [[horse gait|gait]] between the walk and the canter. It is a lateral gait, in that it has four equal beats and is performed laterally - left hind, left fore, right hind, right fore. The Peruvian Paso performs two variations of the four-beat gait. The first, the ''paso llano'' (a contraction of Paso Castellano), is [[isochronous]], meaning that there are four equal beats in a 1-2-3-4 rhythm. This is the preferred gait. The second gait, the ''sobreandando'', is faster. Instead of four equal beats, the lateral beats are closer together in a 1-2, 3-4 rhythm, with the pause between the forefoot of one side to the rear of the other side is longer.<ref name="IMH"/> This characteristic gait was utilized for the purpose of covering long distances over a short period of time without tiring the horse or rider. The gait is natural and does not require extensive training. Purebred Peruvian Paso foals can be seen gaiting alongside their dams within a few hours of their birth. The gait supplies essentially none of the vertical bounce that is characteristic of the trot, and hence posting (moving up and down with each of the horse's footfalls) is unnecessary. It is also very stable, as the execution of the gait means there are always two, and sometimes three, feet on the ground.<ref> [http://www.ancpcpp.org.pe/animacion/index.htm Example of Peruvian Paso's execution of the gait]</ref> Because the rider feels no strain or jolt, [[gaited horse]]s such as the Peruvian Paso are often popular with riders who have back trouble. ====Termino==== A unique trait of the Peruvian Paso gait is ''termino'' &mdash; an outward swinging leg action, originating from the shoulder, in which the front lower legs roll to the outside during the stride forward, similar to a swimmer's arms.<ref name="IMH"/> Individual horses may have more or less ''termino''. High lift or wide termino is not necessarily a sign of a well gaited horse; in fact it may be detrimental to a good gait.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} ===Brio=== [[Brio]] refers to a horse’s vigor, energy, exuberance, courage and liveliness; it automatically implies that these qualities are willingly placed in the service of the rider. Horses with true brio are willing workers. Their attention does not wander but is focused on the handler or rider, and thus they are quick to react and fast to learn. Horses with brio attract attention, and combined with the stamina of the breed have reserves they can tap to travel long distances for many hours.<ref name="IMH"/> Breeders and judges look for Brio, often translated as "spirit," but this does not capture the complexity of the term. ''Brio'' describes a somewhat contradictory temperament, which combines arrogance, spirit, and the sense of always being on parade, with a willingness to please the rider. Brio is an intangible quality of controlled energy that creates a [[metamorphosis]] in ordinary-looking horses and is an important trait of the Peruvian Paso. ==The Question of Paso== Due to the word '''''Paso''''' (which simply means "step" in Spanish), a close relationship between the Peruvian Paso and the [[Paso Fino]] breed is often assumed. Although the two breeds share ancestors in the Old World, and have some similarities, they were developed independently for different purposes.<ref name="IMH"/> The two breeds are different and distinguishable. The Peruvian is somewhat larger, deeper in the body and wider. The Paso Fino is not bred for "termino" and its finest show gait does not require the length of stride that was required in Peruvian horses for traveling long distances. Peruvian Pasos also require transmission of its gait to all purebred foals.<ref name="IMH"/> The Peruvian Paso has been called the "national horse" of Peru. On the other hand, the Paso Fino was developed from horses throughout northern Latin America and the Caribbean, with major centers of development in Colombia and Puerto Rico. The Peruvian Paso is also referred to as the Peruvian Horse in an attempt to differentiate between the Peruvian Paso and the Paso Fino. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *Pasos On The Web - Online Resource for the Peruvian Paso Horse http://www.peruvian-pasos.com *PeruvianPaso.ORG - http://www.peruvianpaso.org *The Peruvian Paso.com - http://www.theperuvianpaso.com *The United States Peruvian Horse Association - http://www.USPHA.net *NAPHA - http://www.napha.net *National Association of Breeders and Owners of Peruvian Paso Horses (Peru) http://www.ancpcpp.org.pe/ *Peruvian Paso Horse Association of Ontario (Canada) http://www.pphao.ca/ *Riding the Peruvian Paso Horse http://www.perolchico.com/english/ridingperuvianpaso.html {{Equidae}} [[Category:Horse breeds]] [[Category:Fauna of Peru]] [[de:Paso Peruano]] [[es:Caballo peruano de paso]] [[pl:Paso Peruano]] [[qu:Piruwanu pasu kawallu]] [[sv:Peruansk pasohäst]]