Foundation Sires of the Paso Fino Breed in the U.S. - This Foundation Sires' list was originated in 1973 by PFOBA -  Paso Fino Owners & Breeders Association, a precursor to PFHA, the current day Paso Fino Horse Association:

Mar de Plata LaCE, Reg. #1, Born in 1960, imported from Colombia in 1967

    

Bolero LaCE, Reg. #2, Born 1963, imported from Puerto Rico in 1968

Faeton LaCE, Reg. #55, Born 1956, imported from Puerto Rico in 1964

  

El Pastor, Reg. #127, Born in 1963, imported from Colombia in 1967

  

Hilachas, Reg. #127, Born 1956, Imported from Colombia in 1968. Hilachas was not originally selected to be on the Foundation Sire List the first year. He was inducted the following year due to outcries of those who felt he should be.

Lucerito, Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino, Reg. #236, Born in January of 1956 in Puerto Rico, exported to the Dominican Republic by then President/General Trujillo. Lucerito was Imported from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. in 1968.

Lucerito was one of several forgotten Pure Puerto Rican horses imported to the Dominican Republic from Puerto Rico, to be in the personal stables of General Trujillo, who was assasinated in 1961. These horses were released into the mountains by one of General Trujillo's aides, years later to be rounded up.

The Association origins began with Rosalie MacWilliam, with the first paso finos, from everything I can tell, in Lorton Virginia, where Rosalie resided for 13 years with her Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos, which is an interesting story in itself, as a privately-owned corporation, "American Paso Fino Pleasure Horse Association." Registrations were hand-recorded and kept in a plastic file box (still my method of choice for my filing) for the first few years.  The registration rules were written up and forms designed based on several long-established horse associations.

The MacWilliams, while stationed in Puerto Rico at the Ramey Air Force Base from 1957 through 1960, met their first paso fino on the first day of their stay in 1957. They eventually purchased five paso finos, one of which worked in the sugar cane mill Eastern Sugar Corporation, a gelding, making it a total of four mares and one gelding. The gelding was sold at a $3.00 profit to the MacWilliams for $18.00.One of the mares, NINA LA GARDA, Puerto Rican Federation-registered, was a whopping $135, which was high dollar back then.The gelding was later sold to the Lohrentzes of Pittsburgh at a profit! Thus began the story of our registry of paso finos in the United States, as the first paso fino was sold in the U.S. and needed to be registered into the name of the Buyer. The best things and largest things in life often develop out of necessity, as did with the sale of this little gelding; and so began the love story with the paso fino. Hats off to you and to all paso fino geldings that make things happen! Have you hugged your gelding today?

Photo is of Brita Conchita (L), Brown Claro (Middle), Nina La Garda (Right). All three are Pure Puerto Rican Mares.