PERUVIAN PASO

Also known as the Peruvian stepping horse, breed of riding horse that developed in Peru. The Peruvian paso, which was developed from horses brought to South America by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, is distinguished by its unique gait. The Peruvian paso is a small horse, standing about 142 to 153 cm (about 56 to 60 in, or 14 to 15 hands) high at the withers. (the high part of the back, located between the shoulder blades). A deep body allows for its proportionately large heart and lungs, which give this horse the ability to travel for an extended time at speeds of 18 to 21 km/h (11 to 13 mph) in the high elevations of the Andes Mountains. The back is short and straight, and the chest and hindquarters well-muscled. The Peruvian paso has a well-proportioned, straight head, lively eyes, small ears, and flared nostrils. This horse comes in most colors. The legs of the Peruvian paso are strong with unusually flexible joints, which allow its distinctive natural gait, the paso, a four-beat lateral gait similar to a fast walk. The paso gait is a vigorous movement of the forelegs, which swing sideways from the shoulder in a characteristic arc as the horse brings them forward. The powerful back legs support this movement, then slide forward over the tracks of the forefeet as the forefeet are lifted on each side. The hindquarters are held low and the front high. The Peruvian paso can maintain this smooth-riding gait for considerable distances in rough, mountainous terrain. The ancestry of the Peruvian paso probably is three-quarters barb horse and one-quarter Andalusian horse. Since this breed originated, it has been developed selectively with little outside influence. The Peruvian paso now is bred in Peru, Colombia, and the United States, and still is used for travel in the mountains and across large estates.

Belgium Heavy Draft horse - Cleveland Bay - Clydesdale - Dutch Warmblood - Gelderlander - Holsteiner - Irish Draught - Lippizaner - Missouri Fox Trotter - Morgan Horse - Mule - Mustang - Oldenburger - Palomino - Percheron - Peruvian Paso - Pinto - Quarter Horse - Selle Francais - Standardbred - Tarpan - Tennessee Walker - Trakehner - Ungulate (onevenhoevigen) - Zebra