Its area of origin lies within the former Chablais province of the Duchy of Savoy, and until the late nineteenth century it was for that reason known as the Chablaisienne.

It is the fourth-most numerous French breed of dairy cattle; most of the milk produced is used to make Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée cheeses such as Abondance and Reblochon.

The Abondance originated in the French or Savoyard part of the former Chablais province of the Duchy of Savoy, and until the late nineteenth century it was for that reason known as the Chablaisienne.

[3]: 98 It is the fourth-most numerous French breed of dairy cattle, and is distributed principally in the former administrative regions of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes, now merged to form Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

[4] The cattle are of medium size: cows weigh between 550 and 800 kg and stand on average some 1.33 m at the withers; bulls weigh some 850 to 1100 kg, with an average height of 1.46 m.[3]: 98 [2] The coat is a rich mahogany red, with white head, belly, lower legs and tail switch; there are patches of red round the eyes.