The Friesian (also Frisian) originates in Friesland, a province of the Netherlands. Although the breed's conformation has similarities to draft horses, it has some very unique characteristics. Friesians are graceful and nimble for their size and considered a willing, active, and energetic horse that is also gentle and docile. Friesians tend to have great presence and to carry themselves with elegance.

Friesians have long, arched necks and well-chiseled, short-eared, "Spanish type" heads. Their sloping shoulders are quite powerful. They have compact, muscular bodies with strong sloping hindquarters and a low-set tail. Their limbs are comparatively short and strong.

Its high-stepping, eye-catching action makes it popular as a carriage horse. It is particularly popular in competitions that require the driving of a team, partly because of its movement and disposition, and partly because it is easy to match teams of black horses. Friesians are true all-around horses, used for showing, driving, and general riding, and are also used as circus horses.

Friesians have the normal gaits of walk, trot and canter. Long tradition among the breeders has emphasized the Friesian’s trot, resulting in a “big” trot. Friesians can be found in many different sizes but the most typical height is 15.3 to 16.1 hands. They are relatively heavy-boned and even the most refined Friesians have lots of substance. An average weight for an adult Friesian is 1300 pounds.

The Friesian is most often recognized by its black coat color which ranges from seal brown to true jet-black but summer sunshine, shedding or sweat can bleach the horses’ coats to a lighter shade. Color alone is not their only distinguishing characteristic. Friesian horses also have a long, thick mane and tail, often wavy, and "feathers"--long, silky hair on the lower legs, deliberately left untrimmed. The official breed rarely has white markings of any kind; most registries allow only a small star on the forehead for purebred registration.

The romantic allure of this graceful and impressive breed accounts for its popularity in art forms, especially the film industry. The breed owes much of its current popularity to the appearance of the Friesian stallion Goliath (real name: Othello) in the 1985 film, Ladyhawke, which ignited a worldwide interest in these horses. Films such as Eragon, The Mask of Zorro, Alexander, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Disney's-Tall Tales and The Chronicles of Narnia have also featured Friesian horses. An episode of the popular TV series Lost featured a Friesian/Saddlebred cross.

The Friesian-type horse, indigenous to Western Europe, was found from Norway to Spain during the Middle Ages. At this time, it is believed that the ancestors of Friesian horses were in great demand as war horses throughout continental Europe. Through the Early Middle Ages and High Middle Ages, their size enabled them to carry a knight in armor. In the Late Middle Ages, heavier, draft type animals were needed. Friesians were also used by riding schools in France and Spain for high-school dressage, and they remain popular today for their gentle temperaments and proud appearance, in both Europe and the United States.

Recently, a demand for purebreds, particularly the "Modern style" finer-boned, taller, more agile version of the Friesian increased, so breeders have bred both purebreds and a lighter-weight crossbred horse with valued characteristics, resulting in the Frieisan cross and Friesian Sporthorse.

In spite of its long history, the Friesian breed was almost extinct by the mid-1960s. After a resurgence of interest in its native Friesland, the Friesian horse soon appeared on the international driving scene. The Friesian horse was introduced to the United States (US) in 1625 into the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam, which is now known as New York, and is believed to have influenced a number of breeds developed in the US. It would seem that the Purebred Friesian horse ceased to exist in the US by 1664. It was not until 1974 that the Purebred Friesian would be re-introduced to North America. The modern day Friesian horse is growing in numbers and popularity, used both in harness and under saddle. Friesian horses can do well in dressage competition due to the breed's movement, trainability, appearance, power, and body control.

To be accepted as breeding stock in the FPS studbook, a stallion must pass a rigorous approval process.