Paso Fino Horses are the descendants of Iberian Horses, and are bred in the Caribbean region. The most famous countries of origin are Puerto Rico and Columbia, but they are native to several countries in the region.
The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is considered an endangered breed. These horses are generally larger and more consistently gaited than their Columbian counterparts. To find out more about them, please see the this article and this Facebook Post or refer to the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation of America. One interesting characteristic found in some lines of PPRPFHs is the “tiger eye”, a golden iris.
In Columbia, horses are generally smaller and considered “less purebred”, some horses are “trote y galope” that are shown in walk, trot and canter only and aren’t gaited.
Outside their countries of origin, Paso Finos can be found in good numbers in North America, but are also bred (if in lesser numbers) in Europe. Since about 2000, they have been in Australia and New Zealand, but they are still a rarity in Oceania.
They are famous for their gait, the paso fino (fine step), but the super high frequency, highly collected version in the showring is called fino fino. Additionally when they step out a bit more, it is called paso corto (short step) and if they really stride out, it is a paso largo (large step). All these are isochronal (even-timed) four beat gaits, which vary only in stride length and level of collection.
Paso Finos generally also have trocha, which is a stepping gait that is a little more diagonal in nature. It is comparable to the trabtoelt of the Icelandic, and the foxtrot of the Missouri Foxtrotter. There are special classes for horses with this gait. It is a little less smooth than one of the paso gaits, but still much nicer to ride than a trot.
Paso Fino shows don’t exist in Australia and there is no need or no point in training horses to perform fino fino, which is purely a show gait. On the other hand, while a Paso Fino’s conformation is fairly upright with the goal of making short collected steps easy, it is absolutely possible to ride them as pleasure horses in a more relaxed outline. A paso corto or largo are eminently suitable for trail rides or general riding.
Paso Finos have a lot of brio. To some people they look like little wind up toys, but they have an incredible work ethic and are extremely tough horses. They are hot but certainly not rattleheads. They can walk on a loose rein but they will be happy any time to pick up their feet and move. They can be exhilarating to ride, with their smooth gait and high energy.