The old-time french-canadian pony, as he was called, was admitted to be a little horse of iron. Though there are no records to prove it, he could probably develop and keep on developing more power per hundred pounds of his weight than any other member of the equine family. This is explained by the fact that the first animals of this breed were sent from France to Canada by Louis XIV, who liked to do things in great style and who had given instructions to his minister Colbert, the latter very much interested to see the new colony prosper, to pick out the best specimens in his country. These horses, which remained the property of the King for three years, were distributed amongst the gentlemen of Canada who had most helped colonization and farming.