Riding Peruvian Step Horses

We have been fortunate to ride Peruvian Paso Horses a couple of times recently. There is an Association of Peruvian Paso Horses here in Trujillo, where the family can go ride for a small fee. They also put on a show with these beautiful horses and the Marinera Dancers of Trujillo, always an interesting cultural experience to appreciate.

The Peruvian Paso is one of the smoothest gaited horses in the world. It is distinguished by a uniquely natural, inborn gait, which is a lateral four beat gait. Descended from the horses of the Spanish Conquistadors (before the Spaniards arrived, there were no horses in Peru), Peruvian horses possess the royal heritage of the Spanish breeds and included a mixture of Barb, Spanish Jennet, and the Andalusian. Their gait was utilized for the purpose of covering long distances over a short period of time without tiring the horse or rider.