The Indian Runner duck is an ancient domestic breed descended from birds imported from Asia. Although its name suggests its origins on the Indian continent, it originated on islands in the Indonesian archipelago that were once part of the Dutch East Indies, hence the name "Indian" duck. Stone carvings found in Java even suggest an origin dating back more than 2,000 years.

Prized for their high egg production and ability to move in groups, runner ducks roamed rice paddies in flocks, pecking at weeds, insects, slugs, and snails that were harmful to crops, and fertilizing the soil with their droppings, making them valuable agricultural aids for local populations.

The first specimens were introduced to England in the 19th century, the name "Indian Runner" referring to the first imports from Southeast Asia and its ability to move by running.

The breed is recognizable by its elongated silhouette, long neck, and almost vertical posture, giving the impression of standing upright. This upright posture is due to a pelvic girdle closer to the tail than in other domestic duck breeds. This characteristic allows the Runner duck to walk or run rather than waddle.

Lively, sociable, and hardy, the Indian Runner is renowned for being one of the best egg-laying breeds among ducks: a female can lay between 150 and 200 eggs per year, sometimes more, with eggs weighing around 70 g. It is also an effective biological control agent for snails and slugs in gardens. At the zoo, it helps control slugs that can transmit a deadly parasite to marmosets and tamarins.