During her lifetime, the size of the Pomeranian breed was reported to have decreased by 50%.[1] Queen Victoria worked to improve and promote the Pomeranian breed by importing smaller Pomeranians[28] of different colours from various European countries to add to her breeding program.[29] Royal owners during this period also included Joséphine de Beauharnais, the wife of Napoleon I of France, and King George IV of the United Kingdom.