Merengue is from the Dominican Republic. Partners hold each other in a closed position, and, to the two-step beat they walk, swinging their hips from side to side. The hips of the man and woman move in the same direction throughout the song as the walk sideways, circle each other, do separate turns and intricate pretzels.

There are legends about a limping war hero who had to step merengue style while dancing because of wounds, and the polite public imitated him. Some say it was derived from the "paso de la empalizada" (pole-fence step).