This article is intended for my non-Purist equestrians—those who don’t know the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino, those who are more familiar with Colombian or American Paso Fino, and those who have some notion of our breed but have not attended a Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Show for a long time.

1- The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is a unique and distinct breed, unlike any other Paso or non-Paso breeds. Any ideas you might have about other Paso or Paso Fino breeds may not necessarily apply to the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

2- While other Paso breeds, such as the Colombian Paso Fino, have evolved over the years, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino has remained true to its identity and standards. So much so that Champions from the past—Kofresí, Allegretto, Cupido, Papyrus, Caribe de Domingo, Plebeyo, Freko, Don Coquí, and Réplica de Majestuoso, just to name a few—could easily be Champions again today.

3- The naturalness is the most important trait of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino gait. Sometimes we use the slogan “born to gait” because most Pure Puerto Rican foals gait from birth. Unlike other breeds, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino does not naturally execute diagonal gaits, and the Trot and Trocha are foreign to our breed.

4- We describe the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino gait as a soft and delicate four-beat evenly-spaced (isochronous) lateral gait. The horse should display a slow forward movement combined with rapid, rhythmic footfalls—what we call “collection.” It must be energetic and elastic, with the hooves kept as close to the ground as possible. It must be symmetrical, maintaining balance between the front and hind legs. The gait should be performed with grace, poise, pride, and elegance, accompanied by an arched neck, pricked ears, and an extended tail. To the ear, the Paso Fino gait sounds “ta-ca-ta-ca-ta-ca-ta-ca…”

5- The above definition must be understood through the lens of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino historical performances in and out of the show ring. Although the PFHA has a similar description of the Paso Fino gait, it is important to understand that they interpret that description from the Colombian Paso Fino, the “Caballo Criollo Colombiano” (CCC), and CONFEPASO guidelines. To fully comprehend the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino gait, one must approach it from the Puerto Rican historical standpoint.

6- The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino was developed to be a smooth and comfortable riding horse. In the old times, we used to have the “glass of water/wine challenge,” where the rider held a glass full of water or wine while riding the horse without spilling it. This is so ingrained in our culture that Disney featured it in the 1970 movie “Cristobalito, the Calypso Colt.”

7- In addition to the Paso Fino gait, also known as Classic Fino in the Continental United States, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino also performs two supplemental gaits: Paso Corto and Paso Largo. The Paso Corto is a more relaxed and extended version of the Paso Fino/Classic Fino gait; while the Paso Largo is the speed version, executed at full extension. All three gaits share the four-beat, evenly spaced lateral rhythm.

8- Andadura, also known as “Paso de Puerto Rico” in Spanish times, is a two-beat lateral gait performed at high speeds. The Criollo horse population on the island used to perform this gait. Andadura races were popular on the island, and still are. Not all Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos perform the Andadura gait, but some lines have the genetic predisposition and are strong transmitters of this trait.

9- The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino has been formally established as a breed since 1943, although the name “Paso Fino” as the Puerto Rican native horse, and the description of the gait, predate that date for over 150 years.

10- Breeders aim to improve the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino, but within its genetic limitations and boundaries. So, when we describe the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino gait as having low action and fast footfalls, if you need a graphical model, refer to the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Champions from the last 80 years. Please, do not look to other Paso breeds to understand our breed or its gait—you will likely reach the wrong conclusions.

11- The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos are not usually shown at the PFHA or CONFEPASO-sanctioned shows. The reason is the substantial difference between the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino and the Colombian Paso Fino gaits. While the descriptions and language may appear similar, the interpretations differ greatly. It would not be fair to judge a Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino under the Colombian rulebook, just as it would be unfair to evaluate a Colombian Paso Fino by Pure Puerto Rican standards.

12- The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation of America is the only organization in the Continental United States devoted solely to protecting, promoting, and preserving the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino. Our horses can be seen at the Classic Celebration Show that the PPRPF Federation holds every October in Columbia, South Carolina.

13- With fewer than 2,100 horses left in the world, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is considered an endangered breed. It was recognized by The Livestock Conservancy (2020) as a threatened breed, and by Equus Survival Trust (2022) under critical status. Efforts are being made to educate about this unique horse breed.

14- In addition to its particular gait and endangered status, there are genetic traits that make the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino special and worthy of conservation for future generations.

15- Dr. Gus Cothran, a geneticist at Texas A&M University, concluded after a 2007 study on genetic diversity that the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino “appears to be clearly related to Old World Iberian horses and may be one of the closest representatives left of the type of horse the Spanish brought to the Americas 500 years ago.” This statement reflects the close relationship between the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino and Iberian horses from 500 years ago. It is also proof of the minimal influence other breeds have had on the development of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

16- A recent study by Oakland and Puerto Rico Universities (published in Scientific Reports in January 2022) explored the relationship between the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino and the Criollo horse population native to the island. This study confirms the close relationship between these two groups and the horses brought to the Caribbean by the Spaniards, as previously concluded by Dr. Cothran in his research.

17- Another revealing finding from the above study was the high frequency of the DMRT3 mutant allele, also known as the “gait keeper.” The Criollo sample showed 87.4%, while the PPR Paso Fino showed 99.4%. The study concluded that, from the beginning, Puerto Rican breeders selectively bred their horses to fix the gait we know today as Paso Fino.

18- In 2017, Dr. Maura Mack of UC Davis, in conjunction with other geneticists, found two variations in the SLC24A5 gene responsible for the unusual eye color displayed by some Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos. The study refers to the bright yellow, amber, or orange iris as “tiger eyes.” It should be clarified that other mutations might also cause yellow eye colors in horses, but these particular variations in the SLC24A5 gene are unique to Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses and have not been found in any other breed to date.

19- Icelandic, Tennessee Walking, Mangalarga Marchador, Peruvian Paso, Colombian Paso Fino, and even the modern Paso Higüeyano are all wonderful gaited horse breeds, and their breeders and countries of origin take pride in their native horses. Likewise, Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino breeders and enthusiasts take pride and are very zealous about our breed, its history, and its future.

20- It might be due to the shared name or because our history once crossed, but Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos are often compared or confused with the Colombian Paso Fino. Please note that they are completely different breeds, and their gaits—although called the same and similarly defined— are “oceans apart.” While the Colombian Paso Fino has evolved into the quick, fast action, robot-like gait seen at shows today, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino has remained true to its roots as a functional riding horse, as it has been for decades.

21- While the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is less rare on the island, only about 300 remain in the Continental United States. This population is concentrated in three main groups: South Carolina, Oregon, and Florida. There are also conservation farms in Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as two farms in Canada.

22- The only way to truly appreciate the uniqueness of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is to meet them—and, if possible, have the amazing experience of riding one. Get in contact with a Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino farm close to you. I promise you, once you get to know the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino, you will fall in love with it.

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ENDNOTE

Photo from the collection of Ramón Ortiz. Allegretto, ridden by Carlos Conde (front), and Leo, ridden by Jr. Conde (back), were Champions of the Federación and the Asociación Nacional, respectively, in an exhibition held next to the Normandie Hotel in 1972. Allegretto was Pure Puerto Rican, and Leo was Colombian—representative of the era when both breeds competed together.