It is a large and prolific sheep, characterised by the distinctive blue face from which its name derives.

[3]: 764  As the name suggests, the breed originated in the historic region of Maine, principally in the areas surrounding the towns of Bazougers in the département of Mayenne and Sablé-sur-Sarthe and Souvigné-sur-Sarthe in the Sarthe.

[4] It is reared mainly in the Mayenne, the Sarthe, and in Maine-et-Loire; its range extends into the Orne in southern Normandy.

[4] A flock-book was started in 1927;[5] the breed received the official recognition of the Ministère de l'Agriculture in 1948.

[2] Some have been exported to European countries, and to Ethiopia;[3]: 765  in 2021 the breed was reported from Belgium, France, Holland, Ireland and the United Kingdom.