In the 19th century, the Haras National du Pin was the first to introduce English Thoroughbreds. It worked to improve racehorses and create a breed of trotters. Gabriel de Bonneval brought purebred Arabians there and devoted himself to harness and mounted racing. Éphrem Houël later introduced Hackney and Norfolk horses even better suited for trotting. Since 2015, the Haras National du Pin has been managed jointly by the Orne department, the Normandy Region, and the French State.