The Paso Fino, like every other soft gaited horse I’ve ever studied, began life as a “road horse.” They were developed to carry a body from here to there between the 16th and 19th Centuries North America (or it’s nearby islands) in a reasonable time and in reasonable comfort. It’s a mostly distance horse, not a speed horse. Good ones can handle the sorts of obsticles that one might have found during that part of the Age of Horsepower (downed trees, washouts, stream crossings, etc.). They were also sensible in temperment, as riding was often done “solo” and a hot, spooky animal would have been dangerous to the human.
In some parts of Central and South America these horses are still used as daily transport for people and light goods.
In the U.S. the road horse lost it’s job with the development of the auto.
By the early '50s the then dominant breed, the TWH, was in serious trouble. It was “rescued” (if I dare use the term) by the develpment of the Big Lick horse, as that was a “crowd pleaser” and made money for breeders, trainers, and exhibitors. So you had two lines develop, the show line of Big Lick horses and the “other TWHs” that continued in the tradition of the road horse. The show horse type came to dominate 'cause that’s where the money was.
In my research on Paso Finos and Peruvian Pasos in the mid-late '90s I saw a similar development. Since the horses did not have real jobs the only way to make real money was to show them. That required a type of horse that was a crowd pleaser, firery and with a lot of “presence.” So that’s what got bred a lot 'cause that’s what made money for breeders, trainers, and exhibitors. It’s my understanding that this “way of doing business” continues to this day.
We did not go into the Paso world (Fino or Peruvian) because our goals did not match the dominant goals within those industries.
When we researched them the DSLD problem was kind of like the HYPP problem in the QH world. It was known to be an issue among insiders, but it was carefully hidden from the outside world. I am personally well aquainted with three ex-Peruvian breeders who found out about DSLD “the hard way.” Each lost a fair amount of money in that term of the School of Hard Knocks. They breed Marchadors today. 
I did not know that DSLD was an issue with the Paso Fino.
IIRC DSLD is a disease that has a rather late onset (6-7 years of age). If I were to look for a Paso Fino as a trail horse I’d likely look for a gelding, more than 7 years old, whose temperment is suitable for the trail. If I were going to select a mare, I’d have to do some bloodline research and see if she were of the “hot” lines or more mellow ones. Remember that with breeding stock it’s an evaluation of the horse in front of you AND the line it comes from. 
The lady we bought our Marchadors from had a lovely Paso Fino gelding that she had trained to handle some of the standard lower level dressage movments (she was German and trained in that style). The horse was a nice mover, but watching the horse do lateral movements Fino was quite a sight. 
This horse was also a good trail horse (way of going and temperment).
Yes, you can find a good Paso Fino but I suspect it will take some time and careful examination of horses offered. The biggest issue will be temperment for the reasons noted above. Be VERY careful of “breed propaganda.” Do some of your own research.
Good luck in your search.
G.
Mine can, though she’s little so it’s probably not very fast :lol:
