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Percheron is a draft horse with very interesting history. It gets it's name from Perche Valley in France where the breed was created. They are huge horses and were bred to be big for the use as battle mounts during the Middle Age era. Percherons are said to be the only draft horse breed with Arabian blood in it.

After gun powder was invented and battle mounts were not as popular Percherons were used mainly to pull heavy stagecoaches in France. At that time grey and white horses were preferred so they could be better seen at night. After railroad took over the stagecoaches Percherons moved on to be popular horses to be used in the farms because their mellow temper and endurance and strength.

Later portion of 1900 Century Percheron became very popular in United States. By the 1910 annual registration of Percherons in United States reached 10.000 horses per year! Percheron breed survived the wars and the depression and 1930 census indicated that over 70% of the purebred draft horses in US were Percherons.

1950's tractors took over and at the lowest point only 85 head were recorded in US. Later on Americans discovered other uses for Percheron and today they are popular as carriage and show horses and in Circus arenas. They are even used as riding horses and jumpers today!

Percheron should stand between 15 to 19 hands high. There has been records for horses in about 24 hands! They average about 1900 pounds in weight but can weigh up to 2600 lb.

Percheron is quite healthy horse breed and its average life spam is said to be 27 to 49 years!

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