Breed history
Initially from Perche, a small French province, the Percheron was considered a purebred horse during the 19th century. Percheron blood is mainly composed of Arab blood. The breed gradually adapted to the climate of its native region and the needs of agriculture. Indeed, it was necessary to have a strong horse capable of plowing and transporting goods and people.
The Percheron has had several uses. Knights first rode it and then drove stagecoaches before being used in agriculture. At the beginning of the 20th century, Percheron was at its peak. Indeed, more than 20,000 thoroughbred horses are used by the Compagnie des Omnibus Parisiens to transport people in the capital.
Threatened with extinction after the Second World War due to the appearance of motor vehicles, the Percheron regained its letters of nobility thanks to passionate breeders. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Percheron was harnessed first for leisure activities and then returned to its agricultural activities. It is now used to transport people, maintain green spaces and collect waste.
