 Conservation efforts were led by several public and private groups in France.In 1979, the Haras Nationaux, (the French national stud) and the Parc Naturel Regional du Marais Poitevin, working with private breeders, launched an effort to improve the genetics of the Poitou, develop new breeding techniques and collect traditional knowledge on the breed.In 1981, 18 large donkeys from Portugal were acquired for use in breeding Poitou donkeys.