Pachón Navarro
Old Spanish pointer breed, once thought extinct, now recovering.
The Pachón Navarro is a hunting dog breed that comes from Navarre, an autonomous community in northern Spain. It is primarily associated with Navarre and is not one of the recognized Basque dog breeds — the four Basque breeds are the Basque Shepherd Dog, the Erbi Txakur, the Villano de Las Encartaciones, and the Villanuco de Las Encartaciones.
This breed is thought to be one of the oldest pointer dogs on the Iberian Peninsula. Medieval artwork provides evidence of its existence. During the 1800s, hunting became a popular pastime among the middle class, and the Pachón spread across much of Spain under names like Pachón, Pachón de Vitoria, Pachón español, Perdiguero común, and Perdiguero navarro. Dogs of this type appeared in Spain’s earliest dog shows in the 1890s.
The Real Sociedad Canina recognized the Pachón when it was founded in 1911, but by the 1970s the breed was thought to be extinct. Recovery efforts began with a census of surviving dogs in 1979. In 1983, the breed was featured on a set of Spanish postage stamps alongside three other Spanish breeds. A breed society, the Asociación Nacional Pro Recuperación del Pachón Navarro, was founded in Laserna, Álava, in 2001, followed by the Círculo de Cazadores y Criadores de Pachón Navarro in Pamplona in 2002. The government of Navarre published a breed standard in 2006, and in 2010 the Pachón was added to the Spanish government’s list of recognized dog breeds. It is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
In 2009, the total breed population was estimated to be between 700 and 1,000 dogs. The Real Sociedad Canina de España has listed it as a vulnerable breed, though it is not among a specific set of sixteen breeds.
The Pachón is usually short-haired. Its coat varies widely and can be one, two, or three colors. The most common color patterns are black-and-white, chestnut-and-white, liver-and-white, and orange-and-white, all with patches and specks of color on a white background. A few dogs have an unusual split or bifid nose, a trait also seen in the Turkish Tarsus çatalburun and occasionally in South American dogs.
Quick Facts
- Country
- Navarre, Spain
- Kc Name
- Real Sociedad Canina de España
- Kc Std
- https: · www.rsce.es/images/rsce/RREE/Standards/Standard_Pachon_Navarro_ingles.pdf
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Pachón Navarro is believed to be among the oldest pointer dogs of the Iberian peninsula, with iconographic evidence going back to the Middle Ages. In the nineteenth century, as hunting became an occupation of the bourgeoisie, it became widespread through much of Spain under a number of names such as Pachón, Pachón de Vitoria, Pachón español, Perdiguero común and Perdiguero navarro. Dogs of this type were exhibited in the earliest Spanish dog shows in the 1890s.
Reader's Guide
The Pachón Navarro was among the breeds recognised by the Real Sociedad Canina at its foundation in 1911, but by the 1970s was believed to be extinct. Efforts to recover it began with a census of surviving examples in 1979. In 1983 it was one of four Spanish dog breeds portrayed in an issue of postage stamps. A breed society, the Asociación Nacional Pro Recuperación del Pachón Navarro, was established in Laserna in Álava in 2001, followed by the Círculo de Cazadores y Criadores de Pachón Navarro in Pamplona in 2002. A breed standard was published by the government of Navarre in 2006, and in 2010 the Pachón was added to the list of dog breeds recognised by the Spanish government. It is not recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. In 2009 the total breed population was estimated to be between 700 and 1000 dogs. In 2026 it was among the sixteen Spanish breeds considered by the Real Sociedad Canina de España to be vulnerable. The breed is usually short-haired, with highly variable coat colors including black-and-white, chestnut-and-white, liver-and-white and orange-and-white. A few examples display an unusual characteristic: a split or bifid nose, a trait shared with the Turkish Tarsus çatalburun and occasionally seen in South American dogs.
Did You Know?
- The Pachón Navarro is not one of the Basque dog breeds — it is primarily associated with Navarre.
- It was believed extinct by the 1970s, but a recovery census began in 1979.
- The breed is listed as vulnerable by the Real Sociedad Canina de España, though no specific 2026 listing exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pachón Navarro?
The Pachón Navarro is a Spanish pointer-type hunting dog that originated in the Navarre region of northern Spain. It is regarded as one of the oldest pointing breeds on the Iberian Peninsula, with its presence attested in medieval artwork.
Where does the Pachón Navarro come from?
This breed is rooted in Navarre, an autonomous community in the north of Spain. Although it spread to other parts of the country during the 1800s, when hunting became a popular middle-class pastime, its core identity remains tied to that specific region.
What is the Pachón Navarro used for?
It is a field hunting dog bred to work as a pointer, meaning it locates game and freezes to indicate its position to the hunter. Its role is to point rather than to retrieve or flush, making it a classic gun-dog type.
Is the Pachón Navarro a Basque breed?
No; despite its geographic proximity to the Basque Country, it is not one of the four officially recognized Basque dog breeds. It is instead classified as a Navarrese breed under the registry of Spain's Real Sociedad Canina de España.
What is the Pachón Navarro's conservation status and population?
Once thought to have disappeared entirely, the breed has seen a modest recovery, with roughly 700 to 1,000 individuals estimated around 2009. It is currently listed as vulnerable, and some specimens display a distinctive split or bifid nose.
More in Basque domestic animal breeds 1-20
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