The Cuban Paso is a gaited riding horse developed in Cuba from Spanish horses introduced to the island during the colonial period. The breed is small to average in size, typically standing 13.2 to 15 hands, and carries a smooth four-beat lateral gait inherited from the Iberian horses that form its foundation. Its movement absorbs the rider’s vertical motion, making it a practical choice for long days in the saddle on rough terrain.
Cuban Paso horses descend from horses of gaited Spanish lineage brought to the Caribbean starting in the fifteenth century, selectively bred over generations for their ambling gait rather than for size or speed. The breed shares ancestry with other New World gaited breeds, including the Paso Fino, but developed independently under Cuban conditions. Horses on the island were used primarily for hacienda work and general riding rather than competition.
Conformation is compact and refined: a fine head, well-arched neck, short back, and muscular hindquarters. The lateral four-beat amble is the defining characteristic — a sequence in which legs on the same side move nearly together, producing minimal back movement for the rider. Cuban Paso horses are noted for a tractable disposition that has made them useful for general riding and training novice horses. The breed has remained primarily in Cuba and neighboring Caribbean countries, with a limited presence outside the region.
Further reading: Cuban Paso on Wikipedia; Tennessee Walking Horse at Britannica (a close gaited cousin).