The St. Bernard or Saint Bernard (UK: /ˈbɜːrnərd/, US: /bərˈnɑːrd/) is a breed of very large working dog from the Western Alps in Italy and Switzerland.[3] They were originally bred for rescue work by the hospice of the Great St Bernard Pass on the Italian-Swiss border.[4][5] The hospice, built by and named after the Alpine monk Saint Bernard of Menthon, acquired its first dogs between 1660 and 1670.[4] The breed has become famous through tales of Alpine rescues, as well as for its large size and gentle temperament.