Travel to Peru, Cusco and Machu Picchu.

If you are looking for a smooth riding horse with an aristocratic and majestic history, look no further, the Peruvian Paso fits the bill.

Over 400 years of tradition remain unchanged even in this day of modern techniques. From the breeding, training, tack, and the way the horses are presented in the show ring, the Peruvian breeders and their counterparts around the world have not changed their horse handling methods.

The Peruvian Paso was linked to the upper class of Peru who were attracted to the breed by its aristocratic appeal, a means of comfortable transportation, and their beauty. The landowners bred stock for their own use, sharing a stallion, or a mare with a neighbor who admired them, and felt they would improve his herd. Thus the desirable traits, disposition, gait, conformation, and soundness were improved over the centuries.

The Peruvian Paso's trainer is called a Chalan. The Chalan maintains the horse's gentle nature with patience and kindness. Young horses begin their ground-work as yearlings and continue until the age of 3 to 3 1/2, when work under saddle begins. Progress is slow, but the Chalan will develop the horse's muscles and encourage it to move properly. All Peruvian Paso's are worked in the bozal at first, which is similar to the western bosal, but is fastened securely around the mussel with the reins attached at the top on each side. This promotes the carriage of a high headset, which is allowed in the young horse. It allows the horse to take long steps and encourage it's famous "advance".

The tack used with Peruvian Paso's is as unique as the breed and exemplifies natural Peruvian art and Spanish design. The bridle is fashioned of fine strands of braided leather and adorned with silver buttons and barrels. The reins and romal are made of the same finely braided leather, with the heavier reins being used for training while the finer designs are used for the show ring. The saddle, designed with a narrow tree and round high pomel and cantle, is typical of Spanish style. The saddles design encourages the looseness of the horse's movements. All Peruvian saddles have a guarnicion, a unique tail piece that is attached to the rear of the saddle and covers the crupper and the tail, many adorned with intricate engraved art. The stirrups are usually pyramid-shaped, and made of wood. They have metal loops at the top which allows the stirrup to revolve for easier mounting.

The Peruvian Paso is trained and shown without aids. The hoofs are short and natural without shoes, while mane, fore-lock and tail are kept long. It's head carriage is high and stately, a reflection of it's natural "extension" and "reach".

The Chalan wears the traditional tropical whites and stylish Peruvian hat. It is also tradition to wear a poncho and scarf while riding in the show-ring.

The horses are shown in gait with the paso llano being preferred, while the sobreandando is acceptable. (The paso llano is a perfectly timed four beat lateral gait that maintain 3 points (legs and feet) on the ground, giving the smoothest of rides, while the sobreandando is a lateral gait which is closer to the pace with 2 points on the same side being on the ground, not being quite as smooth as the paso llano.

The Peruvian traditions of horsemanship and management have been long standing and result in a horse that has that mystique and foreign flavor that reflects it's true Spainish heritage.