How far back does the IPhone store text messages?

Like for example: I've never deleted any of my boyfriend and I's text messages on my iPhone.
Has it stored the texts from the beginning of time? Like if I keep clicking "Load earlier messages" will it take me all the way back to texts from months ago? Or are they gone?
Also is there an app or something that can help me view all the texts at once instead of having to load every single page of texts? I like looking at our texts alot since he's away on deployment, and I want to see the ones from beginning of time.

Yes it will keep all you and your boyfriend messages I have a iPhone right now I have messages from January of last year.

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