Historically existed various regional organizations like ASDEPASO, ASDESILLA, ASOEQUINAS..... generally according  to the departments of Colombia. The highest institution in Colombia is Federacion Nacional Colombiana de Asociaciones Equinas "FEDEQUINAS" representing 25 national organizations. This organization was founded en 1984 and has the right to represent national and regional organization in Colombia and in abroad. It leads the registers of pedigrees, sementhals, determines the rules of judgement and breeding, is organizing top nivel competitions, chooses the best horses of the year, has the right to sanction expositors or breeders, has the decisive word in the disputes between the member organizations. FEDEQUINAS registers over 140.000 colombian horses, patronizes 130 competitions per year.
It is also responsible for the genotype register of the horses on the basis of DNA.
Inputs the obligation to identify the horses by microchips which replaced tattoo used in the past.

The competitions are divided to the categories according to their importance:
A, B, C.

The horses are divided according to their sex and breed/gait to the following categories:

- the exemplars without training 18-24 months

- the exemplars without training 25-30 months

- the exemplars started in training 31-36 months

- the exemplars with finished training 37-48 months

- the exemplars 49-60 months

- the exemplars 61-72 months

- the exemplars over 72 months

The winners of the categories from 31 months up compete for the title of the absolute champion of the exhibition in each breed. Immensely prestige evaluation of the horse is the title FUERA DEL CONCURSO (FC) - in order to obtain such title the horse has to fullfill very difficult conditions. It means 12x obtain the title of the absolute champion of the highest category A and 3 of them at least in 3 of 5 geographical zones of the country and 5x obtain the title of the absolute champion of the category B. In the case of the stallions must be confirmed their fertility and the transmition of phenotype due to the evaluation of their offsprings. The highest possible title in the competition is CAMPEON de CAMPEONES for which compete all present holders of the title FUERA del CONCURSO.

For the participation in the exhibitions it is obligatory for the riders to use traditional colombian zamarros - wide long dark chaps, dark boots, dark cotton trousers, simple white shirt with long sleeve, event. with black jacket, typical white hat with black or white band. The age of the riders in categories A and B must be at least 10 years. Younger riders can compete in the competitions organized for them. Top rider are very famous and also top paid.

All horses of all breeds older than 31 months must be presented in accordance with established rules. Each exemplar has to ride over special wood sound board 20 x 2 m (in order to clearly hear the hits of the hoofs). Then execute four figures 8 to each side between 2 posts 1,4m high and with the distance between them of 3  m - by this proof is manifested the flexibility of the horse and his obedience, and his capacity to do it in corresponding gait maintaining its rhythm and quickness. The rider must hold his hands very closely together, must not apart them, in no moment could put the rein to the neck of the horse - it is a question of invisible orders by milimetres. Trote y galope and trocha y galope must execute the 8´s in both gaits and when in gallop must change their legs correspondingly. Then follow immediate stop and energic walking back of 6 steps. Then the horse must go through the serpentine with 6 cones 3 x 4 metres for which valid the same rules as for the 8´s and its purposse is to evaluate the capacity to maintain the rhythm, obedience, quality of the gait and if the horse correctly changes his legs. The task is finished by the ride over the sound board, the breeds with gallop must ride over it also in galope reunido.

 

1) movement of the horse - maximum evaluation is 50 % points of 100

- rhythm, cadence and smoothest of the ride

- brío and temperament

- action of the hind legs

- action of the front legs

- steadiness of the hind back during the ride

 

2) obedience of the horse - 25 %

- obedience, reaction to the bite and position of the head

- maintaince of the rhythm

- harmony - it is the expression visual and auditory. It is the equilibrium given by the best expression of phenotype and movement of the exemplar. Harmony is everything.

 

3) phenotype - 25 %

- head, neck, thorax, breast, back and heigh

- angles

- color

- tail

The principles of the evaluation are all very detaily described - here we just mentioned them.

 

The part of the traditional colombians competitions for vaqueros is so called coleo (cola = tail). During such competition vaquero run in high speed after the cow, catchs her by the tail and when is passing her in full gallop practically turns her about her axis so the cow makes one or several somersaults and finishes down with her nose in the direction she comes from. This technique is practically used by the vaqueros when some cow decides to run away from the herd. In last years there are some intentions to organize western-style competitions known from the U.S.A. for which were imported also quarter horses and appaloosas. It was proved that colombians breeds could compete with them very successfully because of their speed and agility - known is a history of paso fino stallion Cosmos II. Mr. Guillermo Kling came once at home and shocked his mother Marion - longlife breeder of paso fino - by saying that he was going to compete with Cosmos II. in barrel race. Did not matter that Cosmos II never saw such competition - in the turns around the barrels was much quicker and in his case it was: veni-vidi-vici.

 

Thanks to their big popularity in still increasing number of countries was at 27.10.1990 in Cúcuta, Colombia, founded by Colombia, Venezuela and Aruba international organization CONFEPASO. Actually its members are national organization of Colombia, Venezuela, Aruba, USA., Dominique republic, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Panama, Canadá, Germany. Their goal is support and development of all activities regarding to all four breeds de paso: paso fino colombiano, trote y galope colombianos, trocha pura colombiana and trocha y galope colombianos. CONFEPASO is in charge of all international competitions and exhibitions of these breeds in member countries. The highest competition is organized each 2 years for adult riders followed the next year by the championships of women and children. The World champion became e.g. in 1999 then 4 years old Sebastian Villa in the mare Pituma (trote y galope). Step by step has been unified the rules for the competitions of this level, logically approaching and practically copying the rules of Fedequinas of Colombia as the native country. The only exception is the competition Bellas formas and competitions western-like competitions for those who could participate in competitions similar to those in the U.S.A. Confepaso also maintains the registers of the horses which only with such certificate can paticipate in the competitions, as well as registers of sementhals.

Actually the horses are divided according to their age and sex to the competitions in the following categories:

1) bellas formas paso fino - horses are presented at the halter by 2 people in very long reins. As this form of presentation leads horse to the unwished habit to work against bosal was in Colombia cancelled as nonsense.

2) paso fino - the most prestigious competition. Somehow, specially in USA, called paso fino classic. Apply the same rules and classification as by FEDEQUINAS.

3) trocha pura colombiana - the same rules as Fedequinas

4) trocha y galope colombianos -            - " -

5) trote y galope colombianos -              - " -

 

The following categories were originaly organized in the U.S.A.. They are not organized in Colombia where are considered of a poor level, just for horses and riders not good enough to participate in the category paso fino  and their purposse is to increase possibilities to participate in some type of competition and not to achieve the top quality. The positive fact about these competitions is that offer an opportunity to all enthusiastics owners and thus help to increase the popularity of the breed. 

6) paso performance

   a) paseo

   b) paso corto

   c) paso largo

 

7) paso versatility

8) paso pleasure

9) paso western

10) paso trail

11) rider´skills

In these competitions can participate horses registered by CONFEPASO or by its member countries respecting the rules and standard of the breeds. That means that lateral gaited horses with the color of paint, pinto and others which exist in the U.S.A. and maybe also in Europe are excluded and cannot participate. The general trend is logicaly to adopt the rules of Colombia as the native country of these breeds and Colombia has a decisive word. By offering more disciplines is given an opportunity to all who would like to try with their pasos finos the disciplines known from western competitions from U.S.A.