[3]: 281 The breed originates in the mountains of the canton of Valais – from which its name derives – and of the Bernese Oberland.

It is documented as far back as the fifteenth century, but the present German name was not used before 1884; the breed standard dates from 1962.

[5] The total population reported in Switzerland for 2023 was 10286–19732, with 9380 ewes registered in the herd-book; the conservation status of the breed is listed as 'not at risk'.

[2] The Schwarznasenschaf is a mountain breed, well adapted to grazing on the stony pastures of its area of origin.

The wool is coarse: fibre diameter averages approximately 38 microns, and staple length is 100 mm (4 in) or more.