At Maria Zans the horses always come first. Our horses are our most valuable assets and their well-being and good health are of vital importance to us. 

Feeding and taking good care of horses in this part of the Andes is an expensive undertaking. There is little or no rainfall for seven months of the year, during which time good grazing and quality forage is scarce. We buy tons of chopped and high-quality alfalfa from farmers in Arequipa (about 350 miles away!) to ensure a nourishing and continuous food supply for our horses during the dry season. Apart from feeding the horses only the very best, they are continuously being trained and taken care of, every single day of the year. During the wet season (mid-Nov. through mid-March) the trails high in the Andes can become too slippery and dangerous, making our riding season in the Andes limited to only 8 months a year.

The Peruvian Andes may not be the most ideal place to run a professional riding establishment, but we believe it is one of the most beautiful places in Peru for trail riding.

Due to the above-mentioned limitations, we keep our equestrian business and the size of our herd small, as this is paramount to providing only the best possible care for our horses. 

Our continuous striving for quality and excellence has earned us the reputation of being the best horseback riding operation in Peru.

Because they are superb trail horses. They are agile, not too big, not too small, have stamina and offer an incredibly smooth ride. For centuries they have been bred and selected in Peru to perform as exceptional travel horses; able to cover long distances, year after year. To those unfamiliar with the breed, the Peruvian Paso horse (PPH) is often associated with horses competing in the show ring or showing off in parades, but the PPH has always been a working and travel horse above anything else!

Maria Zans is proud to have some of the very best Peruvian Paso horses from strong working lines. All our horses are registered at the National Peruvian Paso Horse studbook association (ANCPCPP).

To ensure the welfare of our horses there is a strict rider weight limit of 85 kg / 13.5st / 187 pounds (dressed for riding).

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