Heart of Gold Paso Finos, LLC



    In 1493, Columbus, on his second voyage to the new world, introduced the ancestors of
    the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos. During this and subsequent trips by Columbus and
    other conquistadors, Andalusians, Barbs and Spanish Jennets were brought into what is
    now Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic, and other areas of the Caribbean, The primary
    component, which contributed to the uniquely smooth gait, was the Spanish Jennet.

    The descendants of the Jennet became particularly prized for their smooth ride. As
    colonization spread, demand grew for these smooth riding horses on haciendas and
    plantations. These horses provided both a refined mount for the gentry as well as a
    tireless work horse for the managers and owners of vast sugarcane plantations.

    The Spanish Jennet consistently passed on their smooth gait to their offspring - even
    when blended with Barbs and Andalusians. The selectively bred offspring became the
    foundation stock for the conquistadors' remount stations and eventually what was to
    become known as "Los Caballos de Paso Fino" The horses with the fine gait of Paso Finos.

    Over the last 500 years many of the specific details of the Paso Fino history have been
    lost, but the fact that the smooth gait remains, especially in the Pure Puerto Rican Paso
    Fino horses, is a great testimony to the breeders who had the foresight to preserve it.

    The Puerto Ricans have generally prized the presence of gait and smoothness as primary
    considerations for choosing their breeding stock. Hence, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso
    Finos are consistent in terms of passing on gait.

    While owners of many other paso fino horses have to hire trainers to train the gait into
    their horses, it is unknown among Puerto Rican Paso Fino owners. Pure Puerto Rican
    Paso Finos gait naturally, without special training or appliances!

    With fewer then 500 Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos registered with the Federation and only
    a relatively few breeders in the U.S. and Puerto Rico who have not yet diluted their
    bloodstock with horses of outside origin, the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos are very rate
    and valuable horses.

    If you decide to seriously consider one or more of the scarce jewels for yourself, while it
    may not be easy to find stock available, we believe your search will be more than amply
    rewarded by these horses of great temperament as well as a smooth gait.