The Percheron is a breed of powerful rugged draught horses that originated in the Perche valley in northern France. Percherons probably owe their size and weight to their use as warhorses during the Middle Ages. After the invention of gunpowder, heavy warhorses were no longer needed, so the Percheron took up its new job pulling heavy French stagecoaches. With the invention of the railroad, Percherons switched to farm duty and heavy draught work
