The Abruzzese Mastiff, originally known as the Maremma Sheepdog, is believed to have been developed nearly two millennia ago in what is now the Abruzzo region of Italy. These strong livestock protection dogs are descendant of some ancient breeds such as Merdzan Sarplaninac and White Greek Shepherd from the Balkans, as well as some white dogs from Albania. For centuries Maremmas were used for their skills in sheep herding and protection. Their popularity and use has since spread to other European countries and North America where you can still find these lovable hard workers filling the same role they have for 2000 years. However, the breed was only first registered in 1898 with the first standard for the breed being written in 1924. Up until the middle of the 20th Century, the Abruzzo Mastiff and the Maremma were considered to be two separate and unique breeds with their own respective representative societies. However, the Italian national breed club, Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiano officially grouped the two dogs under one breed. In 1988 the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America was founded to continue promoting and helping to preserve the breed that so many through history have come to love.