The Rocky Mountain Horse has an inherited, natural and distinct four beat lateral gait that produces a cadence of near equal rhythm that remains constant. The gait can be heard as each hoof strikes the ground independently. The speed may vary, but the gait remains constant. The horse moves the feet with minimal ground clearance and minimal knee and hock action providing an ambling gait that glides forward. Because the gait does not waste motion, it enables the horse to travel long distance with minimal tiring.

Because of the natural gait favored by most Rocky owners for both the comfort of the rider and horse, there is sometimes a misunderstanding by owners of non-gaited breeds that the Rocky Mountain Horse can only gait. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most Rocky Mountain Horses are capable of performing all of the same gaits as non-gaited horses such as the walk, trot, canter and gallop.