Peruvian Paso horses are prized for their amazing natural abilities. Want to know what makes the Peruvian Paso such a sought after breed? Read our guide for more facts & information…
Peruvian Paso horses are mainly used for horse trekking and pleasure riding. However, it wasn’t always used for this purpose. In the days when there were large plantations in Peru, the horse was used as a means of transport. The horse’s strengths and abilities were beneficial for the dry climate of southern Peru. They were initially stock horses, but the use of them for that purpose waned. Today, the horse is used for joy rides and is fancied at horse shows all across Peru and North America.
Appearance
There are grey, brown, black, white and golden Peruvian Paso horses. The colour of the mane can vary from the coat color,eg., a golden Peruvian Paso horse can have a white mane. A darker colour is typically desired. The horse’s mane is usually heavy. Some Peruvian Paso’s may have a long tail. The Peruvian Paso is an averaged sized horse. They are descendants of the Andalusian, Barb and Jennets.
Natural Traits
The Peruvian Paso’s natural abilities are a gem to breeders. The early breeders helped facilitate this by keeping the bloodline pure.
The unique movements of Peruvian Pasos are admired by many breeders. It can naturally perform a four beat gait. However, if the termino of the gait in an individual horse is too profound, it might be an adverse trait.
The original breeders didn’t breed it to become a race horse or a tough horse. They wanted something that would be easy to ride and could endure long trails. The traits of Peruvian Paso horses show that they got what they wanted. Its natural qualities have made it great for riding, and many people have turned to the Peruvian Paso for this purpose. This is because the horse’s movements are relatively firm and balanced. This makes the journey smoother.
Peruvian Paso’s are displayed at festivals and parades. This is because of the horse’s energetic animation, which make its display vibrant. This trait can impress judges at contests and shows.
Sol de Oro
Sol de Oro is a legendary Peruvian Paso horse. His story is an odyssey. A breeder named Gustavo went about Peru in search of pure-blooded Peruvian Pasos. This was in the 1940s when pure-blooded Peruvian Pasos were becoming rare.
Gustavo got what he was looking for in a mountainous area. He found Sol de Oro. The horse was crippled with a broken foreleg. In the eyes of the owner it was of no value, until Gustavo wanted to buy it. The funny thing is that even the owner thought it was a bad deal buying the crippled horse. However, he still sold the horse to Gustavo, probably thinking, “This guy must be crazy!”
The owner wasn’t the only one that thought it was a crazy deal. Many of Gustavo’s fellow breeders were amused by this and laughed at the idea. However, it was Gustavo and another breeder named Alfredo Elias that saw the potential in Sol de Oro. Since both of them had something in common, Gustavo decided to share Sol de Oro with Alfredo for his own breeding.
At the start of things, Alfredo was disenchanted by the lack of positive results, but eventually achievements in horse shows came. This attracted many breeders that wanted a share of Sol de Oro for their own breed enhancements. A horse that was once ridiculed, was eventually held to high standards and prized.
The potential Gustavo saw in the horse finally came to reality. The horses descendants became champions in various horse shows. Even decades later, if an owner has a horse with Sol de Oro’s bloodline he might proudly tell the owner this. “My horse is a descendant of Sol de Oro!” This could attract credibility and a sense of reliability to the breeders horse. The story of Sol de Oro has a cliché: Don’t judge a book by its cover.
An exemplary of how prized the Peruvian Pasos are for their natural abilities could be seen when Gustavo searched for a pure-blooded Peruvian Paso. He thought a pure-blooded Peruvian Paso rather than a hybrid bloodline, would maximize quality. Though crippled, Sol de Oro descendants turned out to possess many desired traits.
