The Original Paso Fino

The Paso Fino is the native horse of Puerto Rico and has existed as a distinct breed for at least two centuries.

The earliest written references date to the mid-1800s, yet its unique gait was already described in 1797 by the French naturalist André-Pierre Ledrú.

Designed for the Rider’s Comfort

When we say it offers the smoothest ride, it is not a marketing slogan—it is the simple truth.

Often called the “Cadillac” of gaited horses, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino gives a ride so comfortable that once you try one, you will never ride another breed of horse.

A Gait as Unique as the Breed

The signature gait of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is unlike any other.

Once reserved for plantation owners, it has been admired and enjoyed by riders around the world for more than 200 years.

Paso Corto and Paso Largo

Paso Corto and Paso Largo are the ground-covering and speed variations of the gait.

This wide range of gaits gives the breed unmatched versatility—think of it as the 4WD all-terrain SUV, with the luxury package included, of the horse world.

Music in Motion

The distinct rhythm of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is ta-ca-ta-ca-ta-ca-ta-ca.

This is a naturally smooth, evenly spaced four-beat lateral gait so essential to the breed that most foals begin gaiting from birth. This is why we say our horses are truly “born to gait.”

Bellas Formas

The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is not only about gait—it is also about beauty, elegance, brilliance, grace, poise, and harmony. These wonderful horses combine refinement with the smoothest, most comfortable ride: form and function at their finest.

Genetically Unique

From the rare “Tiger Eye” mutation—producing striking amber eyes not found in any other breed—to the high frequency of the DMRT3 “gait-keeper” gene, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino stands genetically apart from all others.

Spanish Heritage

According to equine geneticist Dr. Gus Cothran (2007), 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.”

An Endangered Treasure

Once known as “the most admired breed in the Antilles,” the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino is now endangered, as recognized by The Livestock Conservancy and Equus Survival Trust.

Fewer than 1,800 horses remain on the island, with another 300 on the US mainland.

Living Legacy

This breed embodies history, culture, heritage, pride, passion, love, and legacy. Our mission is to conserve it for future generations.

As Dr. Ángel Custodio-González warned, “If we ever lose this breed, we will have forever lost it.”

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Endnote

Rigoletto, a son of Guamaní out of La Baloon, ridden by his owner Francisco Rodríguez-Torres (my grandfather) in the mid-1950s in Carolina, Puerto Rico.