Horse Illustrated Magazine

Like many of the great breeds that have come from the Americas, the Peruvian Horse has its roots in Spanish horses brought over centuries ago. Because Peru is so isolated, the horses left by the Spanish were not crossed with a lot of outside blood, resulting in a lovely gaited horse that reflects its deep lineage.

The Peruvian gait is a four-beat lateral movement with a foot sequence of left hind, left fore, right hind, right fore. The slower speed is called the paso llano while the faster gait is called the sobreandando.

Peruvian Horses in North America

Currently, the North American Peruvian Horse Association (NAPHA) says there are roughly 20,000 Peruvians in North America, with the number holding steady.

“It’s a very unique breed and a lot of people really don’t know anything about it,” shares Mark Renn, president of the NAPHA. He got into the breed because of his bad back. “They’re fantastic horses. They are born gaited, so you don’t have to worry about screwing up the gait. It feels good knowing the horse has it in them right away, rather than trying to put it in them. And I liked their size.”

He has a two-month-old colt that can be seen doing the paso llano alongside his mother.

The NAPHA celebrates Peruvian Horse owners that get out and enjoy their horses. They have several programs for recreational riders to earn awards for things like trail rides, open shows, and parades—anything that gets the breed out and seen.

One free program is their High Hour Rider, awarded to riders hitting hour milestones as well as the rider with the highest number of riding hours in a year.

Proud Owners of Peruvian Horses

Many people have discovered the joys of trail riding with a gaited horse. Larry Eades from Oregon is one such Peruvian owner. He and his wife, Anne, have been riding them for 12 years.

“A famous endurance rider, Julie Suhr, once said that as you get older, you need a horse that is smaller, smoother, and safer,” Larry says. “We found those qualities in our Peruvians. Plus, they are spirited but tractable.”

They current own three geldings: JSL Pachacamac (“Pacha”), age 29, who is retired; MLM Magico, age 17, who is very active in shows, parades, and trail; and RSTD Salvador, age 12, who competes in mountain trail challenges and some showing.

Larry has been competing in International Mountain Trail Challenge Association’s trail challenges for a decade with his Peruvians and has enjoyed every ride.

“The horses seem to like the challenge and accomplishment,” he shares. “They are very enthusiastic when they conquer difficult obstacles like the suspension bridge, the pond, or the balance beam. It asks the best of them: courage, energy, and focus.”

Kimberly Schwartz has owned Azteca, a 20-year-old gelding, for nine years. She fell in love the breed at a demo at the Iowa Horse Fair, where she was lucky enough to ride one of Barbara Harris’ Peruvians.

Schwartz mainly trail rides with her Peruvian and finds him to be the best partner.

“What makes them a wonderful trail horse is I can ride six hours and not be sore when I get back to camp, as they are smooth at each gait,” she says. “My Peruvians have calm demeanors and big hearts, which is another reason why they make excellent trail partners. It isn’t fun riding horses who spook at their own shadow!”

A Lifetime of Training and Showing

For Nicole Brass, Peruvians have been a part of her life since she was young girl. Her parents started breeding them in 1972, and she showed them as a young girl.

“Peruvian Horses have always been my passion, and I am now grateful to train, breed, show and trail ride them,” says Brass. “I prefer working with them over all other gaited and non-gaited breeds I have worked with for their kind nature, big personalities, willingness to please, their temperament—which thrives when bonded with a human—and for their completely natural and smooth gait.”

Brass has been very successful in the breed show ring, with multiple Champion of Champion titles, Best Gaited Horse of Show, National Champions and several year-end and high point awards.

“The same horses who have won those titles have carried us countless hours down the trail in the mountains of Idaho,” she says. “Their natural gait, which is highly regarded as making them the ‘Cadillac of horses’; their surefooted nature; and their brio, which is a willingness to please and travel as smoothly, quickly and as long as the rider wishes to; makes them an ideal trail mount and highlights why they are my ride of choice.”

The best part? “I can spend eight hours a day in the saddle and end my day feeling refreshed!”

This article about the Peruvian Horse appeared in the August 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!