It was developed by crossing two now extinct Polish breeds, the Pozan (bred at the Posadowo, Racot and Gogolewo studs) and the Masuren (bred at the Liski stud), so it is also referred to as the Mazursko-Poznanski. These two breeds formed a base, on which Thoroughbred, Arabian, and Anglo-Arabian blood was further added.

The Wielkopolski is a breed of horse that was originated in Central and Western Poland in 1964, so it is still relatively young.