  Let $T: A\to B$ be a (not necessarily surjective) linear isometry between two
real JB$^*$-triples. Then for each $a\in A$ there exists a tripotent $u_a$ in
the bidual, $B'',$ of $B$ such that \begin{enumerate}[$(a)$] \item
$\{u_a,T(\{f,g,h\}),u_a\}=\{u_a,\{T(f),T(g),T(h)\},u_a\}$, for all $f,g,h$ in
the real JB$^*$-subtriple, $A_a,$ generated by $a$; \item The mapping
$\{u_a,T(\cdot),u_a\} :A_a\rightarrow B''$ is a linear isometry.
\end{enumerate} Furthermore, when $B$ is a real C$^*$-algebra, the projection
$p=p_a= u_a^* u_a$ satisfies that $T(\cdot)p :A_a\rightarrow B''$ is an
isometric triple homomorphism. When $A$ and $B$ are real C$^*$-algebras and $A$
is abelian of real type, then there exists a partial isometry $u\in B''$ such
that the mapping $T(\cdot)u^*u :A\rightarrow B''$ is an isometric triple
homomorphism. These results generalise, to the real setting, some previous
contributions due to C.-H. Chu and N.-C. Wong, and C.-H. Chu and M. Mackey in
2004 and 2005. We give an example of a non-surjective real linear isometry
which cannot be complexified to a complex isometry, showing that the results in
the real setting can not be derived by a mere complexification argument.
