The small “ criollo”, companion of the gaucho.

When in 1537, Mendoza had to put to sea failing in his attempt to found, if not a stable and durable colony, at least a city, he did not suspect, that resigning 47 small Andalusian horses to their fate, they could survive in these unknown lands.
They did better than that: they adapted perfectly to their new environment, evolved towards a complete race, even if natural crossings gave rise to more than three hundred different coat of which, chestnut, bay, or piebald.
Not exceeding one meter 50 withers, endowed with a full breast piece, a round croup and particularly muscular back legs, they became, at the natural crossbreedings mercy, the ideal companions of the Indians and the “gauchos” which named them “Criollos” since the beginning of the XVIIIth century. Nimble and sharp, they allowed to the first to drive lightning raids (malones) on the colonists lands, to the seconds to escape the police force after having achieved unspecified larceny or “crime of honor " (*) .
Their so characteristic short gallop (that Englishes call “canter”) and who gives them this swaying pace, has always however more been used for hard and healthy labours of the fields. They are also nowadays used for the polo and are often the agriculture exhibition stars(Sociedad Rural) which takes place every year in the Palermo district in Buenos Aires.

(*) episode of the first part of “Martin Fierro” by Jose Hernandez.