Peruvian Paso Horse World Championship 2026: 21 Nations in Lima

Peruvian Paso Horse World Championship 2026: dates, venue and nations

The Peruvian Paso Horse World Championship 2026 (officially the III Mundial del Caballo Peruano de Paso) runs Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. at the Peruvian Army riding school (Escuela de Equitación del Ejército) in La Molina, Lima. Delegations from 21 countries are expected, and Germany, China and Greece are taking part for the first time.

The organizer is the Asociación Cultural del Caballo Peruano de Paso (ACCPP), a Peruvian cultural association devoted to the breed. According to La República, the newcomers join Peru, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, Brazil and Spain, among others. In an interview with La Noticia, ACCPP president Jorge Navarro also named Ecuador, Puerto Rico, England, the United States and Ireland, which he said is visiting for the first time. He added that 9 countries came to the first world event and 14 to the second.

Demand looks strong. La Noticia reported that the Sunday VIP zone sold out and that general admission was expanded. On Oct. 7 the same outlet posted a video interview on X in which Navarro announces the event.

New to the breed? Read our Peruvian Paso horse explainer first. It walks through the paso llano gait and the breed's signature "término" leg action, so this guide can stick to the event.

The program: marinera on horseback, squadrons and efficiency

This isn't only a breed show. It's a two-day festival that mixes competition, folk dance and food. These are the main blocks announced by the organizers and reported in the Lima press:

• III World Marinera on Horseback Contest. A mounted chalán and a dancer on foot perform Peru's national dance together. La Noticia lists several formats: man on horseback with woman on foot, woman on horseback with man on foot, and horse with horse.
• I World Equestrian Squadrons Contest. New this year: teams of several riders perform synchronized routines, which Lima Gris calls "alta escuela" choreography. La Noticia says the Asociación Nacional de Amazonas del Perú, a women riders' group, takes part.
• VI International Efficiency Championship. These are agility and control tests. La Noticia says they include patterns such as barrels and relays.
• Señor de los Milagros tribute. A mounted squad on Peruvian Paso horses honors Lima's most beloved religious image.
• A flag parade of the 21 nations, a Peruvian Army cavalry display, the Ballet Folklórico Jallmay and folk dances such as huaylarsh, tondero and diablada.

Away from the arena there's a food court, crafts fair, live music and a kids' zone. Lima Gris lists ceviche, anticuchos, picarones and pisco sour, plus stalls selling saddles, silver spurs and hand-woven tack.

Why October? The Señor de los Milagros

October is Lima's "purple month," devoted to the Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles), the Christ of Pachacamilla. Its processions draw huge crowds, and El Peruano confirmed five in 2026: Oct. 3, 18, 19 and 28, and Nov. 1.

The ACCPP is tied directly to that devotion. In an interview published by El Comercio, Navarro said the association has developed 19 choreographies and that the work deepened in 2008, when it created the Cuadrilla del Señor de los Milagros a Caballo Peruano de Paso.

So the mounted tribute isn't decoration. It joins Lima's two big October traditions, faith and the paso horse, in one arena.

What is a chalán, and what is marinera on horseback?

The chalán

A chalán is the traditional rider of the Peruvian Paso horse. The word means more than "rider": a chalán knows how to show off the horse's gait smoothly, without forcing it, from a tall and elegant seat.

The outfit is part of the show. Lima Gris describes it like this:

• A straw hat from Catacaos, in northern Peru.
• A white poncho or one of vicuña wool.
• A white shirt and trousers with a neck scarf.
• Silver spurs and a tooled leather saddle.

One classic demonstration, the same outlet notes, is a chalán riding with a full glass of water and not spilling it. It shows how steady the paso llano is.

Marinera on horseback

The marinera is Peru's national dance, a handkerchief-waving courtship between a man and a woman. On horseback, the chalán "dances" the horse while the partner dances on the ground, and the horse answers tiny rein and weight cues.

In El Comercio, Navarro noted that many people link the breed with the northern marinera. In La Molina you'll see the competitive version, with couples from several countries.

How a world-level breed show is judged (the short version)

You don't need a scorecard to enjoy it, but it helps to know what judges look for. No official scoresheets have been published for this event, so treat this as a general guide:

• Classes by sex and age. Lima Gris lists fillies shown in hand, bridled fillies, adult mares and broodmares on the female side; young colts, colts shown in the bozal (a training noseband), bridled horses and breeding stallions on the male side. Geldings have their own class.
• The gait. Judges want an even, four-beat paso llano with no bounce for the rider.
• Término and brío. Término is the elastic, outward swing of the front legs. Brío is controlled energy and proud, willing presence.
• Special awards. These include best ring presentation, a group of mares, and progeny of a sire or dam.

In the marinera and squadron contests, choreography, timing and harmony between horse and rider matter most. For the full gait breakdown, go back to our breed guide.

Why a breed show draws China, Germany and Greece

Twenty-one countries at a breed show isn't an accident. Three things pull them in:

1. A gait that sells itself. The paso llano is comfortable for long rides and for riders who don't want to post the trot. That appeal has built breeding programs outside Peru, as our Jujuy, Argentina, coverage showed.
2. Equestrian tourism. The World Organization of Equestrian Tourism (OMTE) named Peru its Equestrian Tourism Destination of 2025, and TreXperience Peru reported that Navarro is OMTE's delegate in Peru.
3. Cultural heritage. The breed is a declared National Cultural Heritage of Peru. For first-time delegations, Lima is the chance to see the horse at home, with its music, dress and food.

Curious about other smooth-gaited horses? Compare the Paso Fino or browse more breeds.

Visitor's guide: tickets, timing and a checklist

Tickets are sold on Joinnus (La Noticia also points to mundial.pe/entradas). Lima Gris describes the zones below. We don't list prices because we couldn't confirm them:

Lima Gris also reports two-day passes, discounts for kids aged 3 to 11 and seniors 65+ with ID, and free entry for children under 3. Check every detail on Joinnus before you pay.

Day-of checklist

• Arrive before 9 a.m. to catch the opening. Lima Gris says on-site parking is paid and first come, first served.
• Bring a cap and sunscreen; midday in La Molina can be bright.
• For the trip home, Lima Gris suggests an app-based taxi; there's a dedicated drop-off area.
• Carry cash and a card for the crafts fair and food court.
• Check the event's social channels for the day-by-day running order; we haven't published a schedule that isn't confirmed.

Going with kids

There's a kids' zone and, per Lima Gris, supervised horseback rides. Before you go, remind children never to walk up behind a horse or touch one without the rider's OK. Our safety page and kids section can help.

What to watch next

• Official results. Champions will be crowned over the weekend. We won't guess: look for them on ACCPP channels.
• The livestream. La Noticia reported the event will stream on Vincula TV, handy if you're outside Peru.
• The squadrons. It's their first world edition, so watch whether the format sticks.
• The newcomers. See whether Germany, China or Greece announce breeders or national associations of their own.
• More horse traditions. If you love mounted parades, read what a cabalgata is or keep up with our trends calendar.