Despite its massive size, the Percheron is one of the most elegant of the heavy draft horses. The head, crowned by large ears, betrays the horse's Arabian heritage with its straight profile and sometimes tapered muzzle. The Percheron's neck is one of its greatest assets – it is long and arched and leads down to very prominent withers that give the horse a good slope in its long shoulders. The body of a Percheron is deep and noticeably wide, while its legs are short, but powerful and the hooves are hard. The look of a Percheron's legs could be described as “dense.”

The normal colors for a Percheron Horse are dappled gray or black, but chestnut, roan, and bay are acceptable. The horse will also often display a touch of feathering on the legs. The tail and mane are short.

Though the average size for a Percheron Horse is 16.2 hh, they can be much larger. The world's biggest horse was an American Percheron named Dr. Le Gear and he stood at 21 hh, that's 7 feet tall at the withers! The Percheron can weigh as much as 1900 pounds and has an incredible pulling power. An Australian Percheron once pulled 3410 pounds over 15 feet. Of course, not all Percherons are record holders, but they're all remarkable in their own way.

Originating in the Perche region of Normandy in France, the Percheron is the blend of French warhorses and Arabians introduced during the invasion of the Moors in AD 732 and the Crusades in the eleventh century. Percherons were first bred as warhorses as well as draft horses. With their strong, sturdy bodies and docile temperaments, they are perfectly suited to handle even the toughest jobs. They were popular horses that were often used on farms and were ideal for pulling heavy stage coaches.

When the industrial revolution swept across the world, the need for the Percheron was diminished. They were almost driven to the point of extinction. However, a loyal following and clever breeding practices insured that these magnificent and stately beasts still have a place in the modern world. By moving the breed away from carriage work, breeders began to develop a very heavy draft horse. Because the breed had a touch of eastern blood, it was better suited to hot climates than other heavy drafts. As a result, the new Percheron was exported all over the world; North and South America, South Africa, and Australia.

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