diff --git a/moto/sqs/models.py b/moto/sqs/models.py
index 11d91cfb8..48cc2a773 100644
--- a/moto/sqs/models.py
+++ b/moto/sqs/models.py
@@ -274,6 +274,11 @@ class SQSBackend(BaseBackend):
                 return
         raise ReceiptHandleIsInvalid
 
+    def purge_queue(self, queue_name):
+        queue = self.get_queue(queue_name)
+        queue._messages = []
+
+
 sqs_backends = {}
 for region in boto.sqs.regions():
     sqs_backends[region.name] = SQSBackend()
diff --git a/moto/sqs/responses.py b/moto/sqs/responses.py
index 3a22f43fb..b5947c639 100644
--- a/moto/sqs/responses.py
+++ b/moto/sqs/responses.py
@@ -200,6 +200,12 @@ class QueueResponse(BaseResponse):
         template = self.response_template(DELETE_MESSAGE_BATCH_RESPONSE)
         return template.render(message_ids=message_ids)
 
+    def purge_queue(self):
+        queue_name = self.path.split("/")[-1]
+        self.sqs_backend.purge_queue(queue_name)
+        template = self.response_template(PURGE_QUEUE_RESPONSE)
+        return template.render()
+
     def receive_message(self):
         queue_name = self.path.split("/")[-1]
         message_count = int(self.querystring.get("MaxNumberOfMessages")[0])
@@ -389,3 +395,11 @@ CHANGE_MESSAGE_VISIBILITY_RESPONSE = """<ChangeMessageVisibilityResponse>
         </RequestId>
     </ResponseMetadata>
 </ChangeMessageVisibilityResponse>"""
+
+PURGE_QUEUE_RESPONSE = """<PurgeQueueResponse>
+    <ResponseMetadata>
+        <RequestId>
+            6fde8d1e-52cd-4581-8cd9-c512f4c64223
+        </RequestId>
+    </ResponseMetadata>
+</PurgeQueueResponse>"""
diff --git a/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py b/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
index fcad635d1..393725619 100644
--- a/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
+++ b/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
@@ -428,3 +428,16 @@ def test_change_message_visibility_on_visible_message():
     queue.count().should.equal(1)
 
     original_message.change_visibility.when.called_with(100).should.throw(SQSError)
+
+
+@mock_sqs
+def test_purge_action():
+    conn = boto.sqs.connect_to_region("us-east-1")
+
+    queue = conn.create_queue('new-queue')
+    queue.write(queue.new_message('this is another test message'))
+    queue.count().should.equal(1)
+
+    queue.purge()
+
+    queue.count().should.equal(0)