The Costarricense De Paso - the treasure of Costa Rica - magnificent, noble, gallant, grandiose, majestic - all describe a breed of horse, few in North America have ever seen, but is a treasure of the Central American country of Costa Rica. 

To describe this breed of horse as breathtaking would be an under-statement, for its confirmation, temperament and movement are like no other breed of horse.

The Costarricense de Paso is the end result of two influential breeds, the Andalusian and the Peruvian Paso. The Andalucían breed of horse has a long and distinguished history developed in the Spanish Peninsula, it was a blend of the Arabian and Burba horse with some mixture of English blood.  

"The basis of the Costarricenses de Paso are the original start with the Berber horses that the Conquistadors left behind. In the 1800s they brought in the Andalusian in order to create a bigger breed, a stronger breed. The intensity of the Berber horse was his ability to survive on little grass and  sustenance. There is a strength in these horses that you don’t see in some of the horses that we have in the United States anymore that have been made into lawn ornaments instead of used as the amazing work horses they are. "

Gary Douglas. Owner 

Their fame spread as formidable war mounts in the Iberian Cavalry of the Carthaginian Army that fought against the Roman Legions who in turn captured and bred them to help conquer the known world.  

They soon became the standard by which all war horses were measured and were prized for their agility, temperament, endurance and depth of character. It is a breed that has great stamina coupled with its stance, power and the rhythm and grace of its movements. It has always instilled in spectator and rider alike a feeling of grandeur.  

The Peruvian Paso, like the Andalucían, was brought to the New World with the Conquistadores and its influence was so great, it was deemed to be the national horse of Peru.  

The Peruvian Paso is a gaited breed, meaning it moves laterally rather than diagonally as most horse breeds move. This exceptionally smooth gait made it widely used and highly prized for its ground covering smooth as silk gaits.

Both of these breeds are influential in the Costarricense de Paso.

-- excerpt taken fron the Costarricence De Paso DVD by HorseFlicks,  with inset quote from Gary Douglas.