From the eighteenth century it appears also to have influenced the development of the French Baudet du Poitou breed.

As with other donkey breeds, the mechanisation of agriculture in the twentieth century led to a decline in numbers and a loss of genetic identity, until only a few breeders continued to raise pure-bred stock.

From 1980 the breed was listed by the Ministerio de Agricultura, the Spanish ministry of agriculture, among those enjoying "special protection"; in 1997 it was reclassified as "in danger of extinction".

[8] The Zamorano-Leonés is a large donkey, with a massive head – the breed standard speaks of "manifest acromegaly".

The coat is long and shaggy, black or dark bay in colour; the belly, muzzle and surround of the eyes are pale-coloured.