P.R. Laws tit. 5, § 2002
The “Puerto Rican Purebred Paso Fino Horse Agro-Industry Regulating Office” is hereby created as a branch of the Department of Agriculture. Provided, That said office shall be attached to the Puerto Rico Agriculture and Livestock Industry Regulating Office, as established in §§ 3051 et seq. of this title, and shall have the following functions and responsibilities among any others provided in this chapter:
(1) To serve as the coordinating entity between the breeders, the Paso Fino organizations, and the Regulating Office, through the Regulator designated by the Secretary, as well as between the different branches and programs of the Department of Agriculture.
In the performance of said function, the Office shall make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and to said Regulator in order to:
(a) Promote the production and preparation for marketing of high quality Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horses, as well as their unlimited sale in Puerto Rico and abroad.
(b) Ascertain that the agricultural activity related to the breeding of Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horses is developed to optimum capacity, and in the manner that is most efficient and integrated to the rest of the components of the agriculture and livestock industries, to ensure a sufficient stock of good Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horses for United States market and that of other foreign countries.
(c) Offer breeders technical advisory services in the areas of mating, breeding, taming, training, sales, and marketing, as well as management practices of stables.
(d) Approach and obtain financial aid from authorized public agencies, through loans with reasonable interest rates and guarantees for the breeders, and to establish incentives programs, subsidies, or any other type of financial aid programs for their benefit, including the purchase of brood mares, consumer goods, gear, equipment, as well as the establishing of exercise rings for the training of purebred Paso Fino horses, and for the holding of competitions, exhibitions, and showings of these horses at both local and international levels.
(e) Promote the creation of sources of employment in the Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horse industry, through education and work programs sponsored by government agencies and private entities. The different positions that may be filled through these programs, include riders, farriers, trainers, veterinary assistants, stable hands, and others.
(2) Study the possibilities of exporting Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horses to foreign markets.
(3) Perform studies on the condition of the Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horse industry in order to compile the necessary information to be used as a basis for the approval or revision of the regulations that are approved according to what is provided herein, including the adoption of regulations to hold local and international purebred Paso Fino horse competitions, and ensure that the ends and purposes of this chapter are met.
(4) Accept donations or funds from the Government of Puerto Rico and its agencies, as well as from the Government of the United States and its agencies, public corporations or instrumentalities, or any private entity or organization, to carry out its purposes and activities.
(5) Compile, interpret, and periodically publish statistical data on the performance of the Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horse industry, its distribution, export data, and any other information deemed adequate for the evaluation of the public policy established in this chapter, and to create a register of breeding stock, studs, and others.
(6) Ascertain that all breeders or stables comply with the provisions of the chapter and have all the operating permits and other documentation required by the Regulating Office.
(7) Certify the stables, corporations and/or breeders that qualify to be deemed “bona fide farmers”, before being approved as such by the Secretary, pursuant to the scope and specifications of this chapter.
(8) Organize the incorporation of a permanent exhibition gallery of purebred Paso Fino horses within the Agricultural Museum of Puerto Rico. Compile the necessary information to create a library, historical archive, film library, video library, and monuments that extol the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed.
(9) Adopt measures to protect the autochthonous breed, according to the provisions and scope of this chapter.
(10) Fortify the Central Genealogical Register through an advanced computer system and impose penalties [on] those who, through fraud or deception, attempt to, or succeed in registering horses that do not have the needed qualifications to be registered in said register. The pedigree verification test shall be compulsory for every horse whose admission to the Central Genealogical Register is requested.
(11) Establish the Puerto Rican Paso Fino Breed Official Register of Sires. Every stud must have [a] genetic filiation test.
(12) Create and provide incentive for programs for artificial insemination and transfer of embryos.
(13) Establish and safeguard a sperm bank to guarantee the continuance of the breed, and use it as an incentive to improve the breed.
(14) Create a bank of hair tests to verify parentage through DNA tests of each individual and guarantee the line of descent of the animal. Previously performed blood tests shall be admitted for filing.
(15) Take a census of the number of Puerto Rican purebred Paso Fino horses that exist, and are born each year in and outside Puerto Rico, in order to have precise statistics and know the extent of the industry and the economic impact that it has in Puerto Rico.
(16) Establish a school of professionals devoted to the breeding, care, training, riding, and other tasks related to the industry.
(17) Establish a uniform system of marking animals for their identification.
(18) Establish a publicity and intercommunication plan with all the equine entities and international governments of the world.
(19) Promote and sell the image of our Paso Fino horse at an international level. Have adequate representation, whether through videos, photos, posters and, if possible, the very presence of our horses in expositions, fairs, and international equine events.
(20) Encourage the establishment of exercise rings for the training of horses and to hold competitions, exhibitions, and showings, locally as well as internationally.
(21) Develop a program of incentives directed at preserving the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed. Only the breeders that are certified by the Office shall be able to receive incentives to such effects.
(22) Establish through regulations to such effects, an amount of money to be collected for the permits, certifications, and services that are offered pursuant to this chapter.
(23) Carry out all the activities, agreements, and programs that are appropriate and necessary to comply with the purposes of this chapter.
History —Aug. 11, 1988, No. 169, p. 754, § 3; Jan. 20, 2000, No. 37, § 2.