The
Percheron is a breed of Draft horse that originated in the Huisine river valley in western France, part of the former
Perche province from which the breed takes its name. Usually
gray or
black in color, Percherons are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, the ancestors of the breed were present in the valley by the 17th century. They were originally
bred for use as
war horses. Over time, they began to be used for pulling
stage coaches and later for agriculture and hauling heavy goods. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries,
Arabian blood was added to the breed. Exports of Percherons from France to the United States and other countries rose exponentially in the late 19th century, and the first purely Percheron
stud book was created in France in 1883.
View attachment 156785
The percheron is a parade charger in PMA long ago.