The Poule d'Essai des Poulains is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts.

The Poule d'Essai, an event for three-year-old colts and fillies, was established in France in 1840.

[4] The "Poulains" was restricted to colts, and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was reserved for fillies.

[6] The "Poulains" and "Pouliches" were not run in the spring of 1940, but a substitute combining both races took place at Auteuil in October.

[7] The Poule d'Essai des Poulains was held at Le Tremblay in 1943,[8] and Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945.

The leading horses from the Poule d'Essai des Poulains sometimes go on to compete in the Prix du Jockey Club.