The Colombian Criollo designates a family of horse breeds indigenous to Colombia, all descended from Iberian horses — primarily Andalusian and Barb stock — introduced by Spanish colonizers in the sixteenth century. Over nearly five centuries of isolation from European breeding, these horses adapted to the diverse climates of Colombia: the hot, humid Caribbean coast, the steep Andean cordilleras, and the eastern llanos (plains). The result is not a single breed but a cluster of related types sharing criollo heritage while differing in conformation, size, and specialty.
The most prominent Colombian breed is the Colombian Paso Fino (also called Paso Fino Colombiano), known for its smooth, rapid four-beat lateral the paso fino gait — the paso fino — which produces minimal vertical movement for the rider. This gaited characteristic is deeply heritable and central to Colombian breeding selection. The Costeño and Trochador are related types with regional variation in gait expression. Colombian Paso Finos stand approximately 13.3 to 15.1 hands and weigh 700 to 1,100 pounds; they are fine-boned, spirited, and highly trainable.
The Colombian llanero breed, used by the llaneros (plainsmen) of the eastern grasslands, is heavier and more endurance-oriented, sharing cultural and functional parallels with the Venezuelan Llanero and the Argentine Criollo. All Colombian Criollo types are recognized by the Federacion Colombiana de Asociaciones Equinas (Fedequinas), which maintains registries for the Paso Fino, the Criollo Colombiano de Trabajo, and other subtypes. The breed is used across Colombia for cattle ranching, show competition, recreational riding, and cultural events; the Paso Fino bloodlines have also influenced Paso Fino breeding throughout Latin America and the United States.
Further Reading: The most internationally recognized Colombian breed is the Paso Fino (Wikipedia), whose Colombian and Puerto Rican lineages both trace to the same Criollo horse foundation introduced by Spanish colonizers.