PERCHE

Percheron stallion with black coat. region of northern France on the border of Normandie, mainly in the east of the Orne dpartement, with extensions into neighbouring dpartements. Formerly a county, it was united to the French crown in 1525. It is largely hilly country, the Perche Hills having summits as high as 1,000 feet (300 m). Perche is a district of pastoral farming and dairying, famous for its breed of draft horses (Percherons; see photograph). Mortagne-au-Perche and Nogent-le-Rotrou, the chief market towns, were at different times capitals of Perche county.