The Baudet de Poitou is a huge donkey from the Plaines du Poitou. The Baudet de Poitou stands 16 hh, almost as large as the Poitevin heavy horse. The studbook, which is for both the Baudet de Poitou and the Poitevin heavy horse, opened in 1885. This donkey is very hardy and has been bred carefully over the centuries for its conformational strength and size. The male donkey is also used to breed with Poitevin heavy horse mares to make the Poitevin mules.