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The Trait du Nord is a breed of heavy draft horse developed and bred in France.The breed is large, with stallions weighing upwards of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb), and is bred for traction ability and pulling power. Developed in the rich Flemish grasslands, especially the Hainaut border region, it was bred for size and pulling power. The Trait du Nord was also used extensively in mining through a greater part of the nineteenth century. During the mid twentieth century, the breed was in demand for the production of horse meat, and due to this became larger and heavier as higher production was demanded. In the early 1970s, the demand for horse meat began to decline and it wasn't until the 1990s that the breed experienced a slight revival through an increased interest in recreational riding and driving.

The breed is considered to be endangered, with fewer than 100 new foal births a year. The national breed registry in France is working with local initiatives in an attempt to promote this breed and bring breeding numbers back up. The breed currently has a high risk for inbreeding, due to the low number of breeding stallions, and is also at risk for extinction.