St. Bernard, one of the largest dog breeds in the world, was bred by monks in the Swiss Alps. The breed was developed by the hospice of the Great St. Bernard Pass, a monastery that provided refuge and aid to travelers crossing the treacherous Alpine pass between Switzerland and Italy. The dogs were used to locate and rescue travelers who had become lost or injured in the snow and were trained to bark for help and lay on top of the person to provide warmth until rescuers arrived. The St. Bernard breed has since become famous for its size, strength, and loyalty.