The original breed existed over 500 years ago.In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the governor of Monopoli kept a stock of Murgese stallions and several hundred brood mares to provide horses for the army. However the old breed died out and the present breed is a recreation in the 1920's of a light draft horse. A Murgese mare covered by a Thoroughbred or Warmblood stallion produces a quality riding horse. Murgese are mostly black and stand 148-164cm tall.

Murgese or Murghese is a breed of horse that originated in Italy.