Since the time of Napoleon, Arabians have always figured prominently in French horses particularly for their improving influence on native light horse stock for the Cavalry as well as draft stock such as the famed Percheron. Legends abound about Napoleon's famous Arabian stallion Marengo, bought in Egypt, the horse who carried him through so many successful battles.

The racing sport of Kings also enjoyed Arabian influence. Much of the purebred Arabian horse breeding in France developed long ago from various expeditions bringing back numerous desert-bred horses. Early French bred Arabian stock also became an important part of Spanish, Polish and Russian Arabian programs to the point that nearly all of the Polish and Russian breeding programs carry French bred ancestors. However, France's long interest in horse racing would eventually influence Arabian horse breeding in that country to the point that today France is indeed a valued source of racing bloodlines for Arabian racing enthusiasts.