horse breeds · France
Horse breeds from France
Horse Breeds from France brings together French horse breeds and types, from small horses and ponies to draft and warmblood breeds. Entries describe origin and stated breeding purpose.
Read the names from A to Z. Heights are shown in metres when listed.
Angevin horse France Photo: Eugène Gayot · Public domain 
Anglo-Norman horse France Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain 
AQPS France Photo: Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Berrichon horse France Height 1.58 cm Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain 
Bidet breton France Photo: Revue Sport universel illustré · Public domain 
Brennou horse France Photo: Eugène Gayot · Public domain 
Carrossier noir du Cotentin France Height 1.5 cm Photo: L. Moll & Eug. Gayot · Public domain 
Cauchois horse France Photo: Théodore Géricault · Public domain 
Charentais horse France Photo: Rélier Léonard · Public domain 
Charolais horse France Photo: Comminges Marie-Aiymery · Public domain 
Corlay horse France Photo: R. Gignoux · Public domain 
Corsican horse France Photo: Ciriolla · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Photo credits22 photographs on this page
- Angevin horse — Eugène Gayot · Public domain · file page
- Anglo-Norman horse — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- AQPS — Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Auvergne horse — Stephanemartin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Auxois — Cjp24 crop by Peli · CC BY 3.0 · file page
- Barraquand horse — Michael Barbereau WMFr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Berrichon horse — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- Bidet breton — Revue Sport universel illustré · Public domain · file page
- Boulonnais — Amélie Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Brennou horse — Eugène Gayot · Public domain · file page
- Breton horse — Goulwena MOEL · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Camargue horse — Peter Broster · CC BY 3.0 · file page
- Carrossier noir du Cotentin — L. Moll & Eug. Gayot · Public domain · file page
- Castillonnais — Tylwyth Eldar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Cauchois horse — Théodore Géricault · Public domain · file page
- Charentais horse — Rélier Léonard · Public domain · file page
- Charolais horse — Comminges Marie-Aiymery · Public domain · file page
- Cheval des Marquises — Sémhur · ✉ · ✍ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Comtois horse — Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Corlay horse — R. Gignoux · Public domain · file page
- Corsican horse — Ciriolla · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- French Anglo Arab — Clément Bucco-Lechat · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.
Start with the stated origin
The entries connect breeds to places in France. Anglo-Norman comes from Lower Normandy, while the Auvergne horse comes from the Auvergne region. The Barraquand is linked to the Vercors Massif.
These locations can help distinguish breeds with similar names or roles.
Compare listed height
Height is given in metres where a figure is recorded. Examples include 1.45 m for the Barraquand horse, 1.5 m for the Boulonnais and 1.67 m for the Auxois.
Use the height field to compare entries, rather than assuming that a breed name describes its size.
Read the breed type and purpose
The summaries identify different roles and types. AQPS is a racehorse bred to jump in steeplechase and cross-country events. Anglo-Norman is a warmblood, while Breton and Auvergne entries describe draft horses.
The Bidet breton is described as a small horse type, and the Angevin as a small, hardy bay horse population.
Note status and alternate names
Angevin and Berrichon are described as extinct. The Berrichon began as ponies and later became draft horses.
AQPS is also called the French Chaser, or Autre Que Pur-Sang. The Boulonnais has the alternate name “White Marble Horse.”
Breed lists are A to Z, never ranked, and have no paid places. The list order does not signal quality or suitability.
Use the breed summaries and listed figures as a starting point for comparison. Check the entry for the details recorded for that breed.
Questions
Where do these horse breeds come from?
The list covers breeds and types identified as originating in France, including regions such as Lower Normandy, Auvergne, Berry, Brittany and the Vercors Massif.
Are heights listed for every breed entry?
Height appears in metres when a figure is recorded. Entries without a height figure have no measurement shown in this list.
Which breed is linked to jumping races?
AQPS, also called the French Chaser, is a racehorse bred for jumping events held as steeplechase and cross-country races.
Are any breeds described as extinct?
Yes. The Angevin and Berrichon entries describe extinct populations or breeds.
How is this list ordered?
Breed names are arranged alphabetically from A to Z. The order is not a ranking.