<?php // the query to set the posts per page to 3
    $paged = (get_query_var('paged')) ? get_query_var('paged') : 1;
    $args = array(
            'posts_per_page'    =>  3,
            'paged'             =>  $paged ,
            'order'             =>  'ASC',
        );
     $custom_query = new WP_Query( $args ) ?>
    <!-- the loop -->
    <?php if ( $custom_query->have_posts() ) : while ($custom_query->have_posts()) : $custom_query->the_post(); ?>
        //Content
    <?php endwhile; ?>
    <!-- pagination -->
    <div>
        <?php if (function_exists("pagination")) {
            pagination($custom_query->max_num_pages);
        } ?>
    </div>
    <?php else : ?>

    <?php endif; ?>
<?php wp_reset_query(); ?>