It originates in the area of the traditional province of Béarn, in the east of the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the northern Pyrénées in south-west France.

The Béarnaise originated in the area of the traditional province of Béarn, in the east of the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the northern Pyrénées in south-western France.

[2] The Béarnaise was merged with several other local blonde breeds, including the extinct Basquiaise and Race d'Urt, to create the Blonde des Pyrénées (Spanish: Rubia de los Pirineos), for which the herd-book was started in 1920.

A small number of the original type of the Béarnaise survived in the Vallée d'Aspe, and from these the breed was re-constituted.

[2][5] The Béarnaise was formerly a triple-purpose breed, kept for milk, for meat and for draught work.